Couple's fears for 100-year-old relative over Chesterfield care home closure plans

Derbyshire County Council has announced plans to consult on the possible closure of seven care homes, including East Clune in Clowne, and Holmlea in Tibshelf, as well as The Spinney, on Landsdowne Road, Woodlands, Brimington, where Val Brassington's mother-in-law Rhoda has lived for the past four years.

Mrs Brassington said Rhoda turns 101 next month and she did not know how she would cope if she had to move.

The 68-year-old retired civil servant said: “She says how well looked after she is there.

“It’s going to be horrendous for her to move. She has short-term memory loss and has been in the same room for four years. She's going to be so stressed if she has to go somewhere else.

“It just seems so sad. I don’t know how she will cope with it.”

Mrs Brassington, who lives with her husband Peter, Rhoda’s son, a 70-year-old retired civil servant, in Linacre Wood, was full of praise for the team at The Spinney.

She said: “The staff have been fantastic. She enjoys the loving and caring atmosphere there.”

Members of the the council's cabinet were meeting today to decide on the consultation.

Proposing it, a report to members said the homes needed extensive and costly work to bring them up to modern standards, while the need for council-run long-term residential care was projected to fall.

A council spokesman said: “We understand this will be an anxious time for everyone who may be affected by these proposals.

“If cabinet agrees to the consultation going ahead, we’d like to reassure people that no decisions will be taken until we have heard everyone’s views and taken these in to account.

“We will do everything we can to support our residents and their relatives and carers during this time and would like to reassure them their care will not be compromised in any way.

“Depending on the outcome of the consultation, we’d carry out a full assessment of all our residents’ needs, including looking at any medical issues, and ensure they are fully supported to make the best choice for their future.”