East Sussex care home facing closure due to low occupancy levels and staff recruitment issues

A care home in Bexhill on Sea is facing closure due to difficulties in attracting staff and low occupancy rates.

MHA Richmond care home run by Methodist Homes (MHA) is giving residents the opportunity to move to nearby MHA Lauriston at St Leonard’s along with the majority of staff.

Dan Ryan, MHA’s director of operations, said: “Closing a home is always a difficult decision and not one which MHA takes lightly. It is our aim that residents and the majority of staff will be offered the opportunity to move to MHA Lauriston, where we will be able to create an even more vibrant community for our residents and the people who care for them.

“It will help create a home where people’s needs can continue to be met should they become more complex over time. Over the years, a number of residents at MHA Richmond have moved to MHA Lauriston so they can be cared for safely due to their increasing needs. In addition, staff have occasionally worked across both homes.”

He added: “Residents who move will also have access to MHA’s chaplaincy support service, increased music therapy for those living with dementia and nursing care should they need it in the future and we can continue to offer quality and safe care for all our residents.”

MHA has carried out a feasibility study into the future of the Richmond site on Collington Lane East. The charity had hoped to use it for retirement living with care if the closure goes ahead, but the review showed the site was not large enough for this re-development.

If the proposal to close the home goes through, the site will be put up for sale and MHA said it will re-invest the money into its services for older people.

MHA is a national charity which enables people to live later life well through its 89 specialist care homes and 69 retirement living schemes.