RESIDENTS at a Dukinfield care home will be moved to new accommodation following a decision to close its nursing beds.
Those in charge of The Lakes Care Centre have opted to shut down one side of its offering.
The facility, on Lakes Road, will remain open but 13 people face having to move.
Now Tameside Council is working with them and their families to find alternative accommodation.
Lakes Care Centre saw founder Jack Meredith take back ownership last year after it was placed into special measures.
Care Quality Commission inspectors rated it as inadequate and told the then owners to act.
Users told how they were bored and inspectors even requested three people were placed on the correct diet.
Others include medicines not being safely handled, risks not being fully assessed and necessary action to mitigate them not being taken.
A damning report told how one user said: “I would like to go out more. I feel hemmed in and lost.”
Several people commented that there was not much to do.
“Another added: “There’s nothing to do. I just sit and watch TV,” while a third complained: “There is nothing to do but sit and behave and shut up and do as you are told. It’s boring. That’s how I feel.”
Mr Meredith, who was its owner and managing director between 1983 and 2020, bought back what was previously owned by his mother.
On July 19, he regained control and said: “I took on this challenging project to ensure the continued wellbeing of the 45 existing residents, the employment security of some 60 staff, and because of the affinity I have with the home.
“I know that with the required investment, its viability can be restored.”
Mr Meredith’s The Lakes Care Centre Limited said it planned to invest £1.5 million to bring it back to its former standing.
“I consider that it will be a two-year project to get the home to the level I feel is appropriate,” he added.
“Whilst our aim will be to make the home ‘Outstanding’ during this time, a rating of ‘Good’ is the least we must achieve.
“We still have a way to go, but we are making good progress and we’ll continue to do so.”
Now this decision looks set to affect a small number of people at the centre but Tameside Council dismissed claims it was closing completely.
A spokesperson said: “Lakes Care Centre is not closing.
“Lakes is a dual registered Care Home that provides both residential and nursing beds.
“The people who own The Lakes have made a decision that they will no longer be providing nursing beds.
“There are currently 13 people in the nursing beds at The Lakes and we are working with them and their families where appropriate to move them into alternative nursing beds.”
The Correspondent has approached The Lakes Care Centre for comment.
Jack Meridith and his mother owned and ran the Lakes Care Home for many years. The home didn’t have a bad reputation. The home has been under constant threat since he sold it to the venture capitalist, Gregory Pezzella, in 2020. Pezzella owned Blue Ocean Care and La Flamboyant. Standards deteriorated, wages were cut, and cuts were even made to the food bill. La Flamboyant had already had a home closed in Nottingham. It was called Beeston Lodge. The CQC inspected that home in December 2020 and concluded that the elderly residents were at “serious risk.” The home closed shortly after the visit. I believe the fire brigade had to brought in to evacuate some elderly residents.