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The care home in Watson Avenue that could be set to close.

by Keyan Milanian

kmilanian@thekmgroup.co.uk

Relatives of those affected by the closure of a Chatham care home claim they have been told their relatives could be moved in the next 48 hours.

Meetings have been held all morning at Aquarius care home, in Watson Avenue, today after the owners decided to close the premises.

Representatives from the council have been meeting elderly residents and their families, reportedly to issue assessments.

In today's Medway Messenger we reported exclusively how some families were told they had only a week to find their relatives new homes.

But today people leaving the home told our reporter that this morning's meeting was the first they knew of the proposal.

Raj Sathananthan, who claimed to be the owner of A1 Angelcare Ltd, which has two more care homes in Deal, said the decision was out of his hands.

Mr Sathananthan spoke briefly to say he would not be issuing a statement, but did say he was sad to see the home close.

The Medway Messenger was declined entry to the meetings.

A relative, who did not wish to be named, said her father lives in the home.

She said: "Whoever decided to do this, who is not at the meetings today, should maybe have talked to some of the people in there.

"I think the council should have worked more closely with the people who own it, this is the first we knew about it closing."

The woman added she had been told the council would look to move all the residents in the next 'two or three days'.

She also said her father had only moved into the home following the council's recommendation at the end of last year.

She added: "Because whoever rates these homes has rated it as a zero he (the owner) cannot get anyone else to move in, it is a vicious circle."

The home received the zero rating in a review in April carried out by the Care Quality Commission, the independant regulator.

Since then the council has worked with the owners to improve the home but the decision was made last week to close it.

Last year the home received a one-star rating.

Jill Groombridge, the daughter of 93-year-old Lilian Whittingham, said: “It is such a shock, I am so upset.”
Mrs Groombridge said: "We had a meeting in January and nothing came of it. There was no talk of closure. We had another meeting a fortnight ago and asked for a meeting with the council but heard nothing.

"Then we had a call at teatime on Wednesday and were told people would be out by next Wednesday. My mum is 93. It was bad enough her having to give up her home and now they have sprung this on us."

A Medway Council spokesman said: "The council has worked with the proprietor since the home received a poor rating. However, the owner had taken the decision to close the home.

"Medway Council is now seeking to rehouse the residents as quickly as possible."