Shock as 19 are left homeless, 45 jobless as care home closes

A HAYLE care home is to close with the loss of 45 jobs after the owners claimed the high cost of nursing had left them with no choice but to shut.
Nineteen elderly residents will be left homeless when Millpond View Care Home closes on August 7.

Shellshocked staff said they were devastated for the people in their care, who are like “one big family”.

The owners announced the decision to staff and families on Wednesday last week, leaving Cornwall Council with just two weeks to rehouse the elderly residents.

Normal rules demand a 28-day notice period, which would give the authority’s social services department more time to find homes for the aged and often vulnerable residents.

But owner Joy Lissenburg admitted that could not be fulfilled, claiming they had no choice. She blamed the increasing cost of nursing staff and other services while fees from Cornwall Council had not increased.

She said: “Since 2005 we have been having a fight with social services to get an increase in fees. We have been in contact with them almost daily. Everything has gone up but the finances have not.

“Of course we are very saddened and disappointed. It is just something we cannot avoid.”

Miss Lissenburg warned that other care homes faced similar problems and could end up in the same situation if Cornwall Council does not help with the rising cost of social care. However, Cornwall Council said fees were increased last year, although frozen this.

Devastated staff told The Cornishman they had no warning and been left in the dark about some things, unsure if they will be paid up until they finish.

One tearful care worker, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s just like one big family, they know us we know them, to a lot of people it’s home. It is just so sad. We will keep working to support them as much as we can.”

A joint statement from Cornwall Council and NHS Kernow, which both fund residents at the home, said they were very concerned about the impact on its residents of the lack of notice given by the owner.

Councillor Simon Rix, chairman of Cornwall Council’s health and adult care policy advisory committee, said: “The closure of this home with just two weeks’ warning is disgraceful. Even the legal minimum of four weeks’ notice would be traumatic enough. The residents there are very frail and elderly. This is putting them under too much strain. The company involved should have taken its responsibility to these people far more seriously.”

Social workers from Cornwall Council and staff from NHS Kernow have been at the home to talk with residents about their individual needs and help relocate them.

Miss Lissenburg said after two years of struggling a buyer had recently been found for the home, but too late to save it from closure.