Edinburgh Salvation Army care homes face closure

Two Salvation Army care homes in Edinburgh could close under new plans.

In a meeting on Monday, the charity revealed to residents, relatives, and staff future plans for the Davidson House and Eagle Lodge facilities.

They have been earmarked for possible closure under new proposals, along with three other residential care homes that the charity runs.

The others include The Hawthorns in Buxton, Holt House in Prestwich, and Dewdown House in Weston Super Mare, Somerset.

The family of a resident at Davidson House told STV News there are fears of whether residents would survive having to move homes.

Edinburgh & East

‘I fear for 92-year-old mother’s life if care home closes’

Two Salvation Army residential homes in Edinburgh could close under plans announced on Monday.

Meetings with the families arranged by the Salvation Army provoked anger and tears among those in attendance.

“The Salvation Army dealings with the families can be summed up with the following words; corporate, cold, unfeeling, unchristian, clinical and lacking any empathy,” Ian McGlade, whose mother-in-law is at one of the homes, said.

It comes as the charity announced it is transitioning from providing residential care for older people to focusing on “community-based support”.

The Salvation Army, which runs 11 care homes across the country, said a “formal consultation” was due to begin on the future of the homes.

In a letter to residents and families, Salvation Army director of older people’s services, Glenda Roberts, said the “evolving complex nature” of elderly care had made delivering residential care difficult.

However, she said the charity will be able to go deeper into communities and support those facing isolation and poverty.

Mrs Roberts said the Salvation Army’s “immediate focus” was current residents, their loved ones and charity staff.

There is no formal timetable for the remaining six care homes, but work is under way to explore whether the homes could transition to alternative providers.

The Salvation Army said an ageing population and more complex needs meant it faced costs in the millions of pounds to update the suitability of its staffing, governance, and buildings.

“Other care home providers are better placed to meet the complex and changing clinical needs of older people,” Mrs Roberts wrote in her letter.

She added that there had been expressions of interest from some to continue the charity’s residential care work.

In a statement provided to STV News, Mrs Roberts said: “Our residential care homes are places of great love and care, but they do not have the specialised clinical expertise required by an aging population who are increasingly developing more complex conditions. Our buildings would also require significant modernisation.

“Taking action now will allow us to reach more people in the future but we know how difficult residents and our staff will find this news. Our immediate focus is on our current residents, their loved ones and of course our staff while we make this change.

“We are doing everything we can to support all those affected by this process and have set up a dedicated team to provide support. There will be a formal consultation period with our care home staff who have worked hard to ensure our residents are always surrounded by love, friendship and support.

“Following the consultation, if a home does close, our focus will be to settle every single resident into new accommodation with the support of our partners. Community chaplains will also continue to work with residents to ensure a consistency of pastoral support.”