Council to close Towcester care home with 15 residents

The granddaughter of Vera Harman, who is 100 years old, says she loves the home

The closure of a council-owned care home has been approved, despite pleas from families to keep it open.

Ridgway House in Towcester, Northamptonshire, has 15 residents who will have to move elsewhere.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) said the home's facilities were outdated and it would be too expensive to replace them.

One woman said her 100-year-old grandmother loved the home and wanted to live out her remaining years there.

Georgie Lamb, who moved to Towcester to be close to her nan Vera Harman, said: "She's never been more settled in the 18-odd years she's been in care homes. We are nan's only remaining family and I see her every morning.

"That is what keeps her going - I think she'd just give up and die if she didn't get that daily connection that she gets now."

Ms Harman moved into Ridgway House at the end of 2019 following a five-month stay in hospital.

West Northamptonshire Council said Ridgway House needed significant renovation work

According to the council, the home was flagged for closure due to out-of-date facilities that did not meet the needs of an increasing number of people who required residential care.

A Care Quality Commission inspection of Ridgway House in 2022 concluded that it "requires improvement".

Upgrades to the home to maintain basic standards would cost £1m over the next ten years, according to WNC.

Ms Harman celebrated her 100th birthday with her family at the care home

Ms Lamb said: "My nan is over a hundred now and she's fading and she's getting more frail and a little more confused day by day.

"Her hope is to die at Ridgway House and I hope if they can defer it and time is extended she'll get that wish."

Matt Golby, Conservative cabinet member for adult social care at WNC, said: "I can assure everyone that our priority is the safety of those we care for and being able to provide the right care for them, in the right environment; it is essential for us to be able to do this both now and in the future."

He said the council would work with families to find residents "a suitable, alternative setting that is right for them and their needs".

The closure was approved at a council cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

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