Jewish Care races to re-house residents after decision to close Brighton care home

Jewish Care staff have been working round the clock to help residents and their families after last week’s announcement that the charity’s only home outside London, Brighton’s Hyman Fine House, was due to close.

In a statement, Jewish Care said that “closing a care home is the hardest decision any care organisation will ever make”. Acknowledging that the announcement had caused “ sadness, anxiety, and in some cases, anger in the local Brighton and Hove community”, Jewish Care said the decision had not been made lightly, but in fact “with a really heavy heart”.

But, the charity went on to say, circumstances at Hyman Fine had made it “impossible” to continue to support. Only 20 beds were occupied out of a total of 45 — and though there were sadly seven deaths during the pandemic, in fact occupancy had constantly reduced in the last decade.

“Unfortunately”, the charity said, “there is simply not sufficient demand for places at Hyman Fine House to bring capacity levels up to an acceptable level for the home to be sustainable. Many of Hyman Fine’s bedrooms are no longer fit for purpose in terms of size and accessibility, with some having no wet room facilities. This has led us to withdraw those rooms from being available”.

Jewish Care has been spending £1.8m a year to keep Hyman Fine House running.

Now that the decision has been taken to close the home, Jewish Care social workers have held support meetings with each of the remaining residents and their families to discuss potential moves.

Chief executive Daniel Carmel-Brown and Rachel Jones, Jewish Care’s director of care, housing and hospitality, held a separate meeting last Friday with residents’ families.

To date, 17 out of 20 of the residents/families have expressed an interest in a potential care home transfer. Seven residents, who have family in London, have expressed an interest in potentially moving to one of Jewish Care’s homes in north London, three more are considering a move to Nightingale House in south London, four residents are looking at care homes near family and friends in Worthing, Seaford and Peacehaven, three residents are considering a care home in Brighton and Hove, and three further residents, and their families, are yet to voice an opinion.

A spokesperson for Jewish Care said: “Of course, we understand that exploring an alternative home does not diminish residents’ desire to stay at Hyman Fine House. The dedicated social workers will continue to support all residents/families with exploring options that are available”.

For those residents considering moving to other care homes in Brighton and neighbouring areas, Jewish Care is hoping it might be able to offer a kosher meals on wheels facility. The charity says it is determined to retain a presence in Brighton and work with the local community to provide Jewish help and support where it can.