'Our hearts are broken': More families dismayed by Northampton care home closure and four-week notice

More family members with loved ones at a closing-down Northampton care home have complained about short amount of time given to find somewhere else.

Argyle House nursing home residents have four weeks to find new accommodation due to the closure, blamed on a lack of funds by management.

A woman wrote on the Chronicle & Echo's Facebook page: "Our hearts are broken by this news! The time frame given to find a new nursing home for my nan who is receiving palliative care is unjust and unfair!

"We as a family placed my nan in Argyle House in September 2019 with a piece of mind that we’d be able to come and sit by her side making lovely memories in her last stage of life, but instead we now find our selves in absolute turmoil and distress.

"My nan is a very, very sick lady and we are worried that the move might just be too much for her."

Another woman said her 81-year-old husband has always been treated with respect and dignity at Argyle House during his three years there but is worried about moving him.

"I am devastated and very, very upset that we have been treated this way by the owners," she wrote.

"The staff and management are also looking for jobs and I feel for them too some having been there for many years. Please help us."

Another reader pleaded for help from any care home with spaces for their mother, who is so poorly they did not want to tell her about the closure.

Someone else added: "My daughter and granddaughter both work here and are very concerned about the residents.

"As I said to my granddaughter, profits before people."

The Care Quality Commission rated Argyle House as 'requires improvement' in June 2019, having previously been in special measures.

A care home spokesperson said they are unable to continue because of 'market challenges', despite the best efforts of the team, but promised to provide as much assistance as possible to help families.

Other Chron readers were critical of the decisions to close Argyle House and the four-week notice period.

Kazzie Newcombe posted: "What a disgrace, they should make sure people in already are relocated.

"They cannot just leave and close without following duty of care to all."

Justine Fury commented: "I worked there 16 years ago and was a lovely home then and no doubt still is.

"However the saddest part is that most of the residents sell their homes that they have worked hard for so they can receive the care they need in a nursing home.

"So what happens to them now then as they haven’t got homes to go back to! Four weeks is absolutely ridiculous."

And Amanda Clark added: "How sad. I wish all of the residents and the care staff all the best for the future."