It must be remembered that sometimes a transfer to another residence can be rewarding as people move closer to family or friends or couples move in together.

Following Jane's return from hospital, Eileen was exhausted and decided to move into Red Cedars to be with Jane. This was a time for them to live back together and spend time with each other as Jane entered the end of her life.

Intimacy in latter life is something people sometimes find difficult to support, whether this is couples who had relationships before living in care or new relationships that develop. A particular issue which can cause concern is when either or both people in the couple have cognitive impairment. The RCN has provided guidance about this for nurses (published July 2018).

When a home or part of a home closes (either temporarily or permanently), the nurse must support the residents who live there so that, despite the difficult circumstances, people have a good experience of moving to a suitable, safe alternative home that meets their needs.

Moving home can be traumatic even when people plan and choose to do this, so the impact when people have to move at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances or emergencies should not be underestimated. This also applies to people affected indirectly by the closure, such as those already resident in care homes where people move to. Friends and families will be deeply affected by any involuntary move.

The management team at Red Cedars asked for an urgent staff meeting and explained to staff their financial model was no longer working and despite the excellent care being delivered there was a very real danger that the home might have to close. The team were shocked and were asked not to share this information with residents or families until it was confirmed and all other solutions had been explored. Rachel was deeply concerned for the residents, and that the staff had been told this without plans being in place. Rachel immediately contacted the RCN for further support from her local branch.

In the event of care home change of ownership or closure

The RCN understands that you are likely to be feeling anxious due to the uncertainty over the future of your care home and the impact this will have on the residents and your job. Please be reassured that as an RCN member, you will be provided with advice and support throughout these changes and beyond.

As part of any reorganisation your employer has a duty to consult with you directly over any changes to your job, including transfer to another employer. It is important that you have a say in whatever changes may be proposed and we would encourage you to get involved in any consultation. More detailed information can be obtained from the RCN website advice pages.

It is also important that during this transition you feel supported to maintain your high standards of care for residents, and able to manage the anxieties of the residents and their relatives regarding any potential move to a new home or transfer of ownership. Safe care requires sufficient resources and staff to be able to give residents information, consult with them over choices, and to help them feel safe through and following transition.

See further information and advice about questions to ask and support you can expect in the RCN guidance sheet (below).

In the meantime please ensure your contact details are up to date, particularly your email address, online at MyRCN.

When and if you are given details of any proposed changes likely to affect you please contact us on 0345 772 6100 between 8.30am - 8.30pm for support and advice.

Further resources

• RCN. Guidance for RCN members in a proposed care home closure (PDF)
• RCN. Redundancy and reorganisation
• MyRCN. Access to exclusive member support, benefits and special offers through your RCN account.

Below you will find some further links to resources.

• Care Quality Commission (CQC). Managing care home closures: A good practice guide
• NHS England. Continuing Healthcare see also NHS continuing healthcare