Elderly residents at a Lancashire care home are facing anxiety and uncertainty after the county council announced proposals to close several care facilities across the region.
The Reform-led Lancashire County Council has begun a consultation that could see residents moved out of five local authority care homes and day centres, with a final decision expected in February.
Heartbreak for long-term residents
Among those affected is 92-year-old Dorothy Devereux, who has called Woodlands care home in Clayton-le-Moors her home for the past twelve years. The former nurse and carer specifically chose Woodlands as the place where she wanted to spend her final years.
Another resident, 95-year-old Marjorie Aspden, finds particular comfort in the home's location overlooking woods where she played as a child. Her son Phil expressed deep concern about the potential move.
"We've been delighted with the home and with the room - we moved her there because her needs are just too great to have kept her in sheltered housing," he said. "We moved her six months ago and I can't bear to tell her what's happening because I think she'd be heartbroken to be moving again."
Families condemn 'cruel' decision-making process
Relatives of residents have reacted with anger to the proposals, with many learning about the potential closures through informal channels rather than official council communication.
Dorothy Devereux's children, Frances and Simon, argue that the council is using outdated reports to justify the possible sale of Woodlands and haven't properly considered the human impact.
"From everything we've seen so far, all that they've talked about is money, they've not even considered the human cost," said Simon. "They haven't thought about how this impacts our parents, where they will go, how happy they will be. Not only does it seem impossible, it's cruel."
The situation is particularly concerning for residents with complex needs, including those living with dementia and Alzheimer's, who may not fully comprehend the changes happening around them.
Devastating consequences for vulnerable residents
Centenarian Ken Ormerod, who lives with anxiety, has found unexpected happiness during his two years at Woodlands. His daughter Aileen Walmsley, a former employee at the home, fears the consequences of another move.
"My dad's been passed from pillar to post, he's had such a hard life and he's always been a bit of a hermit," she explained. "Since being here he's come out of his shell, he's smiling like he hasn't for years. He always used to eat alone, now he eats in the canteen. I don't think he could go on if he lost that."
Local MP Sarah Smith for Hyndburn has criticised the plans, suggesting they're driven by ideology rather than practical considerations. She believes the additional costs of moving residents to private homes could see the council spending more money than it saves within 18 months.
"This seems to me like an ideological position rather than a logical one," Smith stated, referring to the council's adherence to principles inspired by Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.
Graham Dalton, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for adult social care, defended the consultation process, describing it as part of a "commitment to ensuring that the care we provide remains safe, high-quality, and sustainable for the years ahead."
He emphasised that "no decisions have been made about the future of any of these services" and that the council understands "how deeply valued these services are by those who use them and their families."
The consultation period continues until mid-December, leaving hundreds of elderly residents and their families in limbo during what should be their golden years.
