Second statement on residential care for older people

Nine care homes for older people in talks to transfer to new providers  

In July, The Salvation Army announced that it would transition from running 11 residential care homes for older people to grow its community-based support programmes. Following three months of consultation and research, we can now confirm that negotiations are underway for alternative providers to take over the running of nine of these homes.  

Sadly, no alternative buyer could be found for Davidson House and The Hawthorns which means that these care homes will close once alternative accommodation is found for the remaining residents. 

Salvation Army Director of Old Peoples Services Glenda Roberts said:   

“Our focus now is to settle every single resident of Davidson House and The Hawthorns into new accommodation and these homes will not close until alternative placements have been found. 

“Although we have been reassuring residents and their families that we will help everyone secure a new home, we understand that this is still distressing news. We are doing everything we can to support all those affected by this process and have set up a dedicated team to help ensure a smooth transition. 

“Closing a home is a last resort and it is not a decision we have taken lightly. We very carefully considered all the feedback we received during the consultation period and explored the possibility of selling to alternative providers but we were unable to resolve the significant financial and clinical challenges faced by these two homes  

“The biggest challenge is an aging society. Residents are joining us later in life which means they often have more complex needs. It would take many millions to change our staffing, governance and expertise to be able to offer the specialised nursing required and to adapt our buildings.   

 “Other care home providers are better placed to meet the complex and changing clinical needs of older people which is reflected in the considerable industry interest in nine of our homes.  

“It’s important to stress that Davidson House and The Hawthorns are places of great love and care and the fact that we could not find a potential buyer for these homes reflects the challenges faced by the care sector as a whole as well as the local market.  

Until contracts are exchanged, we cannot say for certain that the remaining nine homes will transfer to another provider. These processes can take time but it is hoped that the process will be completed by early next year. 

Glenda Roberts continued: “When considering alternative providers we have not just been considering the commercial value of the sale but exploring an organisation’s values and ethics. We only want to transfer ownership to companies that plan to continue the work we have started in providing care that is rooted in love and will ensure that resident’s spiritual needs are met. 

“Every week, around 3,500 older people attend Salvation Army community activities ranging from lunch clubs to specialist dementia services and our plan is to substantially increase that vital support. By building on our community foundation, we can reach deeper into communities and support more vulnerable older people.”