A woman who credits care home staff with saving her mum’s life after she spent three months in hospital with covid says she is “disgusted” with plans that could see it closed.
Lorraine McMillan’s mum Betty Harkins is a resident at Whitdale in Whitburn – one of four care homes under threat.
She said that the caring staff at the home “saved her mum’s life” when Betty (85) was placed there two years ago after
leaving hospital unable to walk or feed herself.
Lorraine said staff became like a family to her mum when relatives weren’t allowed to visit and they are all devastated at the prospect of losing their jobs.
She said: “My mum is 85 and she’s been in there over two years. She had to go in there after being in hospital for three months with covid.
“She was really poorly and couldn’t walk unaided, or shower herself, or feed herself.
“The staff have worked so hard with her. She now walks with a stick and is fully mobile, showers independently and can eat on her own.
“All the staff are absolutely devastated about what is happening.
“We thought my mum was going there for palliative care and due to their hard work she runs rings round them and is always up to mischief.
“As far as I’m concerned they saved my mum’s life. The staff were her family throughout covid and helped her with her rehabilitation.”
She continued: “I am absolutely disgusted with how our elderly are being treated. They have already taken their taxi cards and train cards off them now this. It’s a disgrace.
“There are people in these homes who have dementia who will be moved from one place to another in the last six months to a year before they pass.”
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