Stirling care homes saved from being shut

Two Stirling care homes, which house up to 40 elderly residents, have been saved from closure. The council decided last month that Wellgreen and Beech Gardens would be shut and the savings used to provide care in people’s own homes.

However, the administration has announced that it will now look at alternatives to closure and the shut-downs will not go ahead.

About 50 people are employed at the two care homes.

Council leader Graham Houston said: “We always realised that shifting the balance of care from care home provision to caring for elderly people in their own homes for longer would present difficulties, and of course we have always wanted to keep disruption to vulnerable people during this process to a minimum.

“We listened carefully to what clients and their families said, and are prepared to look again at this issue, and involve the other three parties in order to reach a consensus on the way forward.

“It is essential that we make progress on the requirements of the inspectors and the Scottish Government that we shift the balance of care towards more care at home, but are conscious that this has to be achieved in a sensitive way.”