Pensioners protest in Birmingham city centre over Handsworth care home closure
PENSIONERS protested against plans to close a popular care home in Birmingham city centre yesterday.
Staff and supporters joined residents to oppose proposals to close Edwin Arrowsmith House, in Handsworth.
The home is due to shut in February and is one of 29 being closed by the council.
Iris Farmer, aged 82, whose close relatives and friends had all recently died, said: “I don’t want to go. The care workers, managers and even domestic helpers are like a family to us.”
And Colin Mitchell said the home was “vital” for his mum Aletha Campbell, aged 76, who has dementia
“She needs that stability and familiarity the home has provided for the past three years,” he said.
“Any movement could be traumatic – some of them may not recover.”
Mary Campbell, who has worked at the home for 17 years, said staff had been told they would all lose their jobs once the home was taken over.
The care assistant said many of the workers had only stayed in their jobs to “support the residents” after the council-run home announced its first phase of changes.
She claimed that alternative jobs offered to some staff were unsuitable.
“We’ve just been offered a few jobs to calm us down.
“One offered to me was only part time, whereas I work full-time. There are no good jobs really.”
The protestors were joined by union representatives and people from the Handsworth community.
A council spokesman said the closure was part of a process to improve the standard of care in the city. She said 180 staff will be made redundant but could not say which homes they would be from.
A meeting is due to be held in two weeks between staff and council representatives.
