AN ageing Poole residential home for people with dementia is to close this summer, along with a day centre.

Mitchell House in Mitchell Road, Canford Heath, which currently houses 46 people in need of dementia care, is set to close with residents being offered a transfer to Care UK’s new care home, The Potteries in York Road.

Garland Road Day Centre will also close, with the 12-14 people using the old day centre invited to join Poole Day Centre.

Shocked Care UK staff at Mitchell House were told yesterday (Thursday) of the plans with one saying, “Obviously people are upset. A lot of people have been there years and years.”

The changes, approved at a full meeting of Borough of Poole, are due to adjustments to the council’s contract with Care UK, which has provided dementia care services within the town since 2006.

It is expected to save the council more than £750,000 over the term of the contract, which runs until 2021.

Phil Hornsby, head of commissioning and improvement for social services, said part of the original agreement was for Care UK to build a new care home with day centre, but that had not happened.

“Mitchell House has had its day, it’s not suitable for the needs of people with dementia for the future,” he said. Staff at the day centre will become council employees and will be redeployed to existing day services.

“There is the potential for some redundancies from Mitchell House,” he said.

Cllr Karen Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for health and well-being said: “Our priority is to work with Care UK to ensure residents at Mitchell House are fully informed about the choices available to them and help them move as easily as possible to new homes, which will meet their future care needs.

“We understand that it is difficult for both residents and their families when a care home closes but we are confident that the alternatives available to the residents will be suitable for their needs.”

A meeting is due to be held on Monday (April 28) with relatives.

  • Andrew Knight, Care UK’s managing director for residential care said: “We know Mitchell House has been a much loved home for over 30 years but sadly, the building is becoming harder and harder to maintain and doesn’t provide the right environment to deliver the nursing and dementia care that so many increasingly frail care home residents need these days.

“We are proud of the investment we have made in Poole. The Potteries is already proving a popular choice with families. Mitchell House residents and their families will be invited to visit The Potteries where the team will make them very welcome.”