Elderly residents and staff members have been devastated at news that a north Liverpool care home is to suddenly close down.
Staff, residents and relatives were informed this week that Abbey Lawns Care Home on Anfield Road will shut down in a matter of weeks. The care home has room for 61 residents and is believed to employ around 70 staff members in total.
The ECHO has heard from relatives of elderly residents and staff members who are shocked and "devastated" at news of the sudden closure.
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The home is run by Intercare and the company told the ECHO that the care home never financially recovered from the impacts of the covid pandemic.
Irene Kingshott, 64, from Anfield spoke of her shock as she heard the care home where her 91-year-old mother - also called Irene Kingshott - will close suddenly.
She said: "We got a phone call and were told that the care home will close on February 20. My mum has been a resident there for 17 months.
"It is only half full at the moment. It's unbelievable that the NHS is struggling trying to get people out of hospitals and into care homes and now they are closing a 61-bed care home.
"It is just devastating. My mum is 91 and has been well settled there, she has vascular dementia and I have been trying to explain to her what is going on. She's been there for 17 months but other residents have been there for 20 years.
She added: "So many people will be affected by this. I walked in there today and just looked at the faces of the residents, they were just devastated. Some of them have no family, they were asking if everyone would be kept together, it was heartbreaking."
One man whose wife works at the home said staff were worried to be losing their jobs at a time of rising bills.
He said: "My wife was called into a meeting with other staff to be told they would only be paid fully until February 10, after this they would be paid on a week-by-week basis until the place closes.
"It was just out of the blue and obviously is a massive worry for us with bills going up. We are relying only on my wage now. We've not heard anything about redundancy pay.
"Its madness, this is a 61-bed care home closing when the government is saying it can't get people into care homes."
A spokesperson for Intercare said: "It is with great regret that the after affects of Covid have finally caught up with the home and financially we have never fully recovered
"Our main focus is make sure the residence are not put under any unnecessary stress. They are out priority. Our staff have worked so hard over the last few years and it is a horrible experience for us all now."
In a statement, Liverpool Council's Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health, Cllr Frazer Lake said “We can confirm that the provider, Intercare, has advised us of their plans to close of Abbey Lawns Care Home.
"The council has been working with Intercare to put in place a closure plan, which not only protects vulnerable residents and ensures continuity of care until alternative placements can be found, but also works to support families and staff affected by this news.
"The council also wishes to support the staff team at Abbey Lawns to gain alternative employment, wherever possible within the Liverpool care sector."
Last year Abbey Lawns was placed in special measures as CQC inspectors felt staff were at risk of harm. However a follow up inspection had seen the situation improve and the facility moved out of special measures and into the requires improvement bracket.
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