Helensburgh nursing home to close

A Helensburgh nursing home is set to close its doors as bringing the building up to scratch would not make “economic sense”, say its owners.

Balvaird Mardon 35-bed nursing home is being shut down by Orchard Care Homes just over a year after the firm took it over from troubled Southern Cross.

A total of 16 elderly residents — including two sisters aged 102 and 98, have been forced to relocate to new accommodation after the care provider decided it would be too costly to redevelop the West Abercromby Street site, said to be “unsuitable for care”.

Rev David Clark, who often sees the sisters at town church St Andrew’s Kirk, said the closure will be unsettling for the elderly residents.

He said: “It came as a complete surprise to me. We have a handful of the congregation there, including two elderly sisters.

“I think when moved into a nursing home, residents would think their home is secure for the rest of their days but that is sadly not the case here. It really is quite unsettling for those in their formative years to be moved when they are comfortable.”

The nursing home will be decommissioned on January 29, which has given residents a 13-week window to move out.

A spokeswoman for Orchard Care Homes said the firm is working closely with the Scottish Care Inspectorate, adding that residents have been given an extended notice period so they can take their time to find a new home.

She said: “It is with great sadness that we have announced the closure of Balvaird Mardon. We are very proud of the local reputation of the home which has been built by a fantastic team.

“Unfortunately, the building is not suitable for care and half of the home has been closed because there is no lift. Although we have looked at many redevelopment schemes, there is no proposal that makes economic sense.”

Councillor James Robb, the council’s head of adult care, said: “The social work area team in conjunction with Balvaird home care staff have been supporting residents and their representatives to make choices about where they will be looked after in the future.

“Several of the residents have now already moved to new care homes in the local area and most residents will have been resettled before Christmas.

“Each resident will have had a formal review and the management of the home have worked with the Helensburgh adult social care team and families to make sure that everyone is appropriately placed in suitable alternative accommodation.”