FAMILIES today spoke of their devastation after discovering their elderly relatives will be forced to leave a care home which is set to close.
Jubilee Nursing Home, in Sunderland city centre, will shut in the coming months because it is “no longer economically viable”.
The centre has 22 residents, who will have to find alternative accommodation.
As revealed in the Echo, bosses at Essex-based Caring Homes, which runs the centre in Thornhill Terrace, confirmed it will close later this year.
The firm is now in discussions to arrange new accommodation for residents and minimise job losses.
The site for up to 35 residents is advertised by the company as “one of the top care homes in Tyne and Wear”, offering a range of residential and nursing support.
It is equipped to accommodate sufferers of cerebral palsy, colitis and Crohn’s Disease, epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis.
Olive Harrison, 53, from the East End, is now facing a race against time to find alternative accommodation for her 82-year-old mum, also called Olive.
The great-grandmother, who suffers from dementia, moved to the home 18 months ago after breaking her hip in an accident.
“I was really worried about having to move her to a home,” said her daughter.
“We looked around and thankfully we came across the Jubilee.
“It was a difficult time for the family, but the staff there were amazing. I visit my mum every day and it was like one big happy family there. They couldn’t do enough for you.”
Son Stuart, 50, from Red House, also praised the work of the staff and the home’s “loving family atmosphere”.
“They are unbelievable, that’s the only word for them,” he said. “I don’t know what we’re going to do when it closes.
“We’re looking around and have one home in mind and, hopefully, that will work out.”
Julie Wilson, whose 71-year-old mum Lilian Edmonds was a resident at the home before she lost her battle with cancer last month, said staff provided “invaluable” support.
“They were amazing,” said Ms Wilson, from Sunderland. “I can’t praise them enough.
“They gave us invaluable support. My mum had terminal cancer and the standard of care was unbelievable.
“I can’t think why the home has to close, unless it’s a lack of public awareness and not enough families know about the fantastic work they do there.
“You read about all the terrible homes that are investigated and then, somehow, allowed to stay open.
“To see one as good at the Jubilee close is heartbreaking.”
l Do you have a relative affected by the closure? Call the Echo Newsdesk on 501 7326.
Twitter: @sunderlandecho
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