‘End no admissions policy’ – lobby group

Sally Parkinson joined a contingent of East Antrim residents at Stormont to press the case for the survival of the Joymount, Lisgarel and Clonmore care homes.

Participants have formed a number of lobby groups, including local collective Friends of Joymount, with the initial goal of overturning the ‘no admissions’ policy of some Trust-operated homes.

Sally’s mother, Sally McCrory, has been a resident at Carrick’s Joymount House for four years. “My mum was deemed high risk at home after my dad passed away; she was suffering from dementia and was unable to look after herself,” Sally said. “The staff in Joymount know my mum, know her needs and she feels safe there. We know that the staff are well trained and that she’s being well cared for.

“If we were faced with having to move my mum into the private sector, there would be expensive top-up fees to consider.

“What were are trying to do now is get the no admissions policy that is in place for a lot of the homes overturned. If it’s kept up, the homes are going to be run down and the argument will be that there’s no need for them.

“When my mum was still living at home in Greenisland, there was no care package available at the time; we had to fight to get her a place in Joymount and we’re continuing that fight.”

Sally and other members of the Friends of Joymount group are planning a number of events locally to raise awareness of the ongoing care home campaign.

“I think people don’t realise that the intention is still to close Joymount despite the Minister’s ‘u-turn’,” Sally added.

“We need people in Carrickfergus to help keep these facilities open; they have to look at the bigger picture and realise that even if the closure doesn’t affect them now, it may very well in the future when they or a relative needs care.”