Care home flit brings woman closer to Ullapool loved ones as Highland crisis thrown into focus
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A FAMILY devastated by the psychological and financial burden of having to travel 120 miles to visit a loved one in a care home has spoken of the relief now she is a little closer.
The Highland care home crisis has been thrown into focus in the village of Ullapool following the unexpected closure of Mo Dhachaidh.
Ullapool local, Katy Campbell, earlier told of us of her family’s mental and financial burden when her mother–in–law was forced to move 120 miles away to Thurso.
Katy said her mother–in–law Phillipa (89), who formerly worked for charity Barnardo's, was given a place in a care home in Thurso last November, on what was supposed to be a temporary basis.
The longer term plan was for Phillipa to return to Ullapool and take up a place at Mo Dhachaidh, in the community she knows best.
But following Mo Dhachaidh’s closure, Katy and her husband Ian were left with no choice but to journey to and from Caithness – with three young children – on an ongoing basis.
Locals have also been protesting with a rap video, where they call for their right to “die with dignity” to be restored.
When the family heard that Phillipa would be moving to an Aultbea care home, 77 miles closer to home, it came as an immense relief.
Katy said: “It has alleviated so much stress, it’s going to have a major impact financially too, because when we went up with the children, we would have to stay overnight, which would cost hundreds of pounds at a time.It’s also going to save us a lot on the fuel it takes to get up there, which really improves your mental health.
“We just feel a lot more at peace knowing that she’s closer, we can pop up after school if we wanted to with the kids.”
Phillipa had felt “abandoned” in Thurso and her mental health had declined.
The Aultbea care home is an improvement – but still a 44-mile trek from Ullapool.
Katy said: “This is the most ideal scenario at the minute, but for her to be in Ullapool that would make a huge difference.”
