Peeblesshire News | News | Council play down fears over future of Dunwhinny Lodge residents

Friday, 9th May, 2008

Published: Friday, 21st March, 2008 09:00

Council play down fears over future of Dunwhinny Lodge residents

By David Knox

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FEARS for the future of residents at Dunwhinny Lodge have been played down by social work bosses.

The old folks home will close later this year with residents being moved to purpose-built accommodation.

But families are concerned that their loved ones could be short-changed in the switch.

One daughter told the Peeblesshire News: “There are 27 residents in Dunwhinny just now and not many of them are happy about the move.

“We are not convinced there will be enough beds at the new place and many of them aren’t able any more to live independently.

“We’ve had meetings with the council and are still waiting for assurances.”

A decision to close Dunwhinny Lodge came after it failed to meet current Care Commission standards.

And the closure acted as a catalyst for a £15 million housing strategy to provide more than 130 affordable homes in the town.

Pensioners from the home will be rehoused in a new sheltered development at Dovecote Road along with several elderly residents from the soon-to-close Tweedbridge Court.

Scottish Borders Council claims there will be plenty of room at the new home.

A spokeswoman said: “A meeting was held last Thursday with council staff, relatives and residents of Dunwhinny as part of a series of regular meetings to discuss future changes to the service at Dunwhinny Lodge and the planned move to extra care housing at Dovecote Road.

“Care and support staff will be available in the new facility 24 hours each day to undertake a wide range of tasks. Staff will work very closely with future tenants to achieve their optimum level of independence and to improve and maintain their health and well-being.

“However, full assistance will be provided with personal care, meals and cleaning should a tenant require such support on the basis of a community care assessment.”

Further meetings are planned over the coming months for residents and relatives to have input in the Dovecote Road facilities.

And once a finalized design has been agreed the sheltered complex will go before members of Tweeddale Area Committee.

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