Elderly given days to leave Paignton care home

A DOZEN frail and elderly people have had to be found new alternative accommodation almost overnight after the owner of their care home became too ill to continue.

Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust had to step in at a short notice to provide new homes for 13 residents at the Manor Cottage Residential Home in Manor Crescent, Paignton when owner Ken Peek fell ill.

The family-run home, which looks after people with various degrees of dementia or require palliative care, was also hit by the news that its manager had found employment elsewhere which made it even harder for Mr Peek to run the home.

Alison Newell, one of the Trust managers in charge of the transition period confirmed that the residents were being moved because of the owner’s illness.

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She added: “Mr Peek is very ill and his manager is leaving. He finds too difficult to continue with the running of the home.

“We are working with Manor Cottage and the families of the residents to find appropriate accommodate that is suitable for their needs.”

No-one from the home was available for comment but it is understood that the NHS Trust and residents were only given three days to find alternatives following a short notice decision by the owner to stop running Manor Cottage.

There was no mention of the move on the home’s website but people loading boxes out of the house into cars could be seen outside over the past few days.

Manor Cottage’s web page describes it as a “residential home that prides itself on the care, support and well being of our residents”.

It says: “The home itself is small, 21 residents in all, enabling one to one quality care and an array of interaction and stimulation for your loved ones.

“We provide daily activities, outings and we have fun.

We really are one big family here. Our fully trained staff are carefully picked and committed. They are happy and caring individuals and we pride ourselves on our success stories.”

However it is not yet known what will happen to the staff and whether their jobs are secure.

A spokesman for Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust said: “The owner of Manor Cottage Residential Home has informed us that due to illness and the fact this his manager is leaving on January 4, he feels it is no longer possible for him to run the home. He therefore intends to close the home at the end of the day January 4.

“Residents and their families should be reassured that we and local authority partners will continue to work closely with them and with the owner, manager and staff at Manor Cottage to ensure a smooth transition to a new home for each of the residents.

“Although we are responding to a tight timescale the care of residents is a priority and each individual resident will be followed up by care staff to ensure that their needs are fully supported in their new home.”

For reaction from those affected by the closure see next Thursday's Herald Express