Anger and concern over Rugby care home closure threat

Heartbroken families are shocked and angry over plans that could see a Rugby care home closed.

Business at Jim Gillespie House, run by Abbeyfield, might end after a consultation period.

Sophie Wilkins said her grandmother lives at the home.

She said: “My Nan has advanced dementia and as a family, we have been given the devastating news that the company, Abbeyfield, might be closing the home and have started a consultation period.

“Nan is settled there. She has made friends there and loves the staff that care for her, and they love her back. My Nan doesn't always remember much, but she knows that Jim Gillespie is her home and she’s comfortable and happy there.”

Scores of people have now launched a petition to halt the plans.

Sophie added: “We are absolutely heartbroken that my Nan has lived through a war, worked extremely hard all her life and sold her home to pay to live at Jim Gillespie, only to be treated like this in her final years, years which she should be enjoying. It’s so cruel. Residents, their families and staff have all been in tears and are shocked by the news we've been given.

“Right now, there's a significant number of residents living at Jim Gillespie who are unsure of their future, unsure of where to go, unsure of whether they are going to have to start all over and unsure as to whether they will ever see their friends again. Families are worried sick.”

Another man, who didn’t want to be named, said: “Jim Gillespie House simply cannot be allowed to close. Should the Abbeyfield Society elect to do so they would fly in the face of their own mission statement of providing 'homely houses' and be betraying the best interests of their current residents in the process.”

An Abbeyfield spokesperson said no final decision has been made.

They said: “As a responsible care and housing provider, we conduct periodic reviews of all of our homes to make sure they remain suitable for residents.

“We recently completed the latest review of all of our homes as part of making a clear plan for the future of the organisation and each of our homes. These reviews considered how our properties can keep pace with the changing needs, tastes and expectations of older people,

the investment required to bring them up to modern standards and whether they are able to meet new regulatory and energy efficiency requirements. We also needed to reflect how the past few difficult years have impacted the organisation’s finances, particularly the impact of the Covid pandemic, the huge increase in energy prices, rising inflation, and rapidly

increasing operating costs.``

“Having fully considered the findings of this review, it is with regret that we have made the difficult decision to begin consulting on the future of Jim Gillespie House. Everybody taking part in the consultation process will have the opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas and

any proposals they may have before a final decision is made.

“We fully acknowledge the impact that this consultation, and any potential outcomes, will have on our residents and colleagues in particular, and we will be doing everything we can to support and assist them through this difficult process.”

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