Residents given one week to leave Oakdene Residential Home

Residents, staff and family at Oakdene Residential Home in Wirral are “devastated and worried” at the news, which could see them relocated on Friday.

The troubled Birkenhead home, which has been open for around 25 years, provides care for up to 16 people. One of the current eight residents is 100 years old, and there are fears over her and others’ health if they are made to move.

Oakdene is set to close down despite a divide in opinion between the management – who want to save it, and the owners – whose decision it has been to close, meaning it will no longer be registered.Residents were reportedly told the news on Monday that they may only have four more days of being able to stay there. Staff said the reaction was “horrific” – with residents reportedly “shouting and crying, saying they would barricade themselves in”.

Oakdene has been rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) four times in little over a year, but staff and residents say things have turned it around, and they are close to getting a new score.

They say with social services’ assistance, it could stay open while several changes and updates are made. That includes getting some of the staff registered with the CQC, but the local authority has said that wouldn’t be possible. It added that there were also no plans to transfer the home to alternative management.

“We’ve upgraded it and done so much to turn things around here,” said Della McManus, a financial supporter of the home, who has donated time and money in a bid to keep it open.

She’s been working closely alongside the management led by Kate Ryall since last year. Speaking on behalf of the team, Ms McManus said: “[Residents] should have the right to say what happens to them.

“The bottom line is they don’t want to move, and their relatives don’t want them to move. It’s making them very angry.

“I came here because I believed this home could be turned around. It’s scandalous they could be thrown out.”

Susan Holmes, a resident at Oakdene Residential Home, with sister-in-law Pat and brother Brian

She said if the residents are moved elsewhere, she fears they “could die within six months”, adding: “The majority of them would not survive another move elsewhere. It’s outrageous. There’s a real problem here. We are up in arms.”

Ms McManus said she wanted social services to come and speak to the families, as well as temporarily manage the Tollemache Road facility while issues are smoothed out.

She added: “That would be the best scenario for these residents.”

Carol Adams, whose mother is a resident, said staff treat them like “one big family”

“They are so caring and loving, and treat our mum like their own,” she said.

“She is happy and content, and we are happy when we leave here knowing the care and love she receives is unconditional. But as a family we don’t want our mum to move. It will deteriorate her and we were devastated to be told she has to move out.

“Susan Holmes is one of the residents at the home, and her sister-in-law Pat said: “The difference here has been unbelievable. They interact with her, and while there’s times when she’s very frustrated – nothing is too much trouble for the staff and girls. They are so welcoming. If you’ve got any concerns they’re here 24 hours a day.”

When they were told the news about the home on Monday morning, Pat and husband Brian were “devastated”.She added: “We are willing to sleep here and not leave rather than let them take these residents out.

“Everyone here is friends as well as family. It’s frustration, anger and hurt.

“We don’t know what we would do if it closed. We haven’t got a clue. Susan wouldn’t survive at one of these institutionalised places. It’s so personal here.

“It’s not just one or two people – it’s a close-knit community, a family.”

The home provides accommodation for people needing nursing or personal care, dementia, and adults over 65.

Lynne Maddocks, resident at the Oakdene Residential Home

Resident Lynne Maddocks said those living at the home “wouldn’t go down without a fight”, adding: “It’s an amazing place, and the staff could not be better.”Many of us don’t have a choice but to be here, and to move just isn’t an option.”

A letter written by the Wirral Health and Care Commissioning group and sent to the residents confirmed the plans to close. It said options for residents “may involve moving in friendship groups to other Wirral Care Homes”.

It said: “There are currently no formal plans or arrangements to transfer this home to alternative management. Our position is that the Local Authority is legally and morally bound to help our residents in the really difficult situation.

“We recognise this is a very stressful time and would want to do all we can to reassure you and support you with alternate arrangements.

“We want to reassure you of commitment to ensuring the welfare of your family member and to assure that their and your views are of primary importance.”

The owners of the home, who made the decision to close last week, were also contacted for comment.