Keep Bield Care Homes Open

Bield care homes provide care for more than 160 people in Scotland, all of whom are about to lose their homes. Most of these residents are elderly and have complex needs, including dementia. My 87 year old Grandmother is a resident of Bield. Leaving her house of over 50 years was a massive wrench. She has said that "having to start over again is terrifying". She feels the situation to be "just hopeless". Other residents have said that they feel "completely forgotten about" and are "fearful of what their future holds". The thought of my gran and others having to find new accommodation and to go through another long settling in period, doesn't bear thinking about. The impact on my gran's and that of other residents' mental health would be catastrophic.

For a person living with dementia, having familiarity of surroundings and trusted faces contributes to them feeling safe and secure. How sad that for so many of Bield's residents all that they know is about to be taken away from them.

Bield's overarching values include "Dignity" and "Caring". Their slogan is "a home for life". They plan to close 12 care homes. This is also believed to be affecting 200 staff. Several of these homes will be giving notice to their registry body close to Christmas, so time is of the essence.

We implore the Scottish Government to take action against these closures in order to spare these residents further distress.

Bield Care Homes planned for closure:
Woodlands - Bo'ness (Falkirk)
Thornton Gardens - Bonnybridge (Falkirk)
Grantsbank - Dunfermline (Fife)
Gillie Court - Dunfermline (Fife)
Finavon Court - Glenrothes (Fife)
Lochar Lodge - Pollok (Glasgow)
Milfield Gardens - Jedburgh (Scottish Borders)
Langvout Court - Biggar (South Lanarkshire)
St Andrews Court - Broxburn (West Lothian)
West Port - Linlithgow (West Lothian)
Haugh Street - Edinburgh
Craighall Gardens - Edinburgh