Salvation Army confirms closure of care home

A petition was launched to save The Hawthorns care home from closure

The Salvation Army has confirmed that The Hawthorns care home in Buxton will be shutting after consulting on its closure.

The charity announced that the home in Derbyshire was under threat in July, and since then most of the residents have left and found alternative accommodation.

More than 1,000 signed a petition opposing the move.

But the Salvation Army has said it is changing the way it provides care from running residential homes to providing more help for people in the community.

The Salvation Army has 11 care homes; nine of these will continue as residential homes that will be run by different operators, but The Hawthorns in Buxton and Davidson House in Edinburgh will be closing.

Dorothy Heathcote, 96, is one of six residents still living at the care home

Sandra Webster, 62, is friends with Dorothy Heathcote, 96, one of the residents at the home.

She said she was helping her to find alternative accommodation because Mrs Heathcote "doesn't have any family living locally".

"It's like the wind has been knocked out of her sails," added Mrs Webster.

"To leave her home in the first place was a big upheaval for her, to leave her family memories.

"But then she thought she had found her forever home, so I am concerned about her when she moves."

Claire Bateman, who used to work at the home, started the petition objecting to its closure.

Before the threat to its future was announced, it had 27 residents, but now there are six people there.

"I am certain that if they [the Salvation Army] changed their minds and decided to keep the home open, most of the residents who had moved would be coming back in a heartbeat," she said.

The Salvation Army said it understood that this was a distressing time for families

Glenda Roberts, Salvation Army  director of older people's services, said it was working to find suitable alternative accommodation for the remaining residents.

She added: "Although we have been reassuring residents and their families that we will help everyone secure a new home, we understand that this is still distressing news.

"We are doing everything we can to support all those affected by this process and have set up a dedicated team to help ensure a smooth transition.

"Closing a home is a last resort and it is not a decision we have taken lightly."

Councillor Joss Barnes, cabinet member for adult care at Derbyshire County Council, said: "We're working closely with the Salvation Army, which owns The Hawthorns, residents and their families to support them to find a suitable new home.

"Many have already found a new place to live, and we are continuing to support those residents who need to find an alternative home."