'Huge shock' in Callan - Community reacts to nursing home closure announcement

Yesterday's announcement that the Aperee Living nursing home in Callan is to close, and all 43 residents moved to other facilities, has come as a "huge shock" to the local community.

Formerly known as Strathmore Lodge, the nursing home is set to close in the next five weeks, according to the HSE news which broke yesterday (Tuesday).

Cllr Joe Lyons said the announcement of the imminent closure "comes as a huge shock to all as it was a state of the art nursing home and provided a valuable and important health and care facility to many people over the last 20 years."

It is believed some residents of the home have been there for more than a decade and staff members even longer.

A joint call from Deputy Kathleen Funchion and local election candidate in the Callan area, Stephanie Doheny, calls on Aperee Living, owners of the facility, "to give a commitment that all 43 residents will be able to remain in the nursing home whilst remedial works are undertaken."

Last November the HSE took over the running of the home when the licence of the private operator was cancelled by HIQA, followed by  a subsequent District Court Order (under Section 64 (4) (b) of the Health Act 2007).

Cllr Lyons described the HSE plan as "a huge upheaval in the lives of these families" and creates "uncertainty of where the residents will be cared for in the long term.

"(Losing) the staff of the nursing home will be another blow to the community as there are many nursing, carers, cooks, chefs and maintenance staff employed there. Also, the fact that a transfer of  resident to an outside area may mean losing their GP, which adds to the confusion and upset at an already harrowing situation.

"The loss of a nursing home like this is immeasurable and upsetting," the local councillor said.

Meanwhile, local election candidate Stephanie Doheny has written to Aperee Living calling on the company to  keep the facility open. "

“I, along with Deputy Funchion, have written to Aperee Living calling on them to guarantee residents can remain in their homes whilst they comply with the HIQA report; to ensure the works are finished in a timely manner; and to guarantee as little upheaval as possible for all residents.

“I have asked for assurances that the dedicated staff, who were praised for creating an environment that was caring, fun, engaging and supportive, and who “promoted and respected residents’ rights”. Aperee needs to confirm their status as a matter of urgency. Their employment is now in jeopardy due to management failures – this is not acceptable."

Deputy Funchion added: “It is pretty outrageous that the care of elderly people is now in jeopardy, that we have is a situation in which the HSE is now in a mad panic to find alternative arrangements for residents, when they should be ensuring that residents can remain in their homes whilst works are carried out. I will be writing to the Minister to demand a guarantee that they will monitor the works, that this home is not permanently closed, and residents remain in situ."