Posted on 01/13/2010 7:49:32 PM PST by nickcarraway
One of Britain's oldest women was among four pensioners who were forced to leave their council-run care home today after losing their fight to keep it open.
Louisa Watts, 106, had vowed not to leave Underhill House in Wolverhampton, and her son, Derek, warned that the upheaval could kill her, but this morning the elderly residents were moved to a different home a few miles away.
Ms Watts, believed to be the fifth oldest woman in Britain, moved to the care home four years ago, following the death of her daughter.
Five other women who had lived at the home, in the Bushbury area of the city, have been rehomed since its closure was finalised in October.
Wolverhampton City Council said a senior social worker was with the residents to ensure the transition was as stress-free as possible for them.
A spokeswoman said: "Residents have been presented with a range of options to suit them and, depending on availability, could choose their preferred option.
"They have also been supported to physically visit potential options to see for themselves the facilities on offer, and the majority have taken up this opportunity."
The council decided to close the 40-year-old home in April last year. It said the property did not meet modern standards and improvements would cost £2 million, prompting a legal battle by the residents and their supporters to keep it open.
The fight was led by campaigning solicitor Yvonne Hossack, who has prevented the closure of more than 80 care homes, but the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the council in October. Derek Watts, 76, said he was "disgusted" at the council for closing the home, and remained concerned about the impact of the move on his mother's health.
He said: "The new home is a nice enough place and the staff seem wonderful, from what I've seen, but you don't know what this move is going to do to my mother.
"She is having something to eat now and hopefully they will settle in here, but it is a big move for someone of her age and she is upset.
"She was at home at Underhill House, it was small and homely.
"I think the council is disgusting for doing this, moving old women out of their home in the snow. I am disgusted."
He added: "If anything happens to my mother because of this move, I will make sure someone is for the high jump, because they have been warned about it." Les Pugh, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet member for adults, said the authority's first concern had always been the residents of Underhill House.
He said: "The places they have moved into reflect their changing needs.
"One has moved into sheltered accommodation, giving her greater independence and more facilities such as her own flat, while others were found to require greater support and so are now receiving 24-hour nursing care.
"I am pleased that we have also been able to enable a group of friends to move to new accommodation together, which is something we had always promised to try our best to do."
Mr Pugh said the council would monitor the progress of the pensioners in their new homes.
He added: "This has been a long, difficult and at times emotional process for all concerned and I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has worked so hard over the last few months, not least the team at Underhill House who have helped the process go as smoothly as possible."
Sarah Norman, the council's director for adults and community, said: "Underhill House was built 40 years ago and no longer meets the modern space standards for a residential care home relating to room size and the need for en-suite facilities."
Ms Norman said development options for the Underhill House site would be considered "sensitively and carefully".
I’m not a big fan of Britain’s system, but if merely being very old can force a place to stay open, there would never be an upgraded old folks’ homes.
Sounds like the son is hoping. ‘If she dies’? She’s 106!
A building built in 1969-1970 is old? What "modern standards" are they looking for? i-Pods and computers plumbed into in every room?
The answer is in the penultimate sentence of the article. Rooms too small, no ensuite bathrooms.
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