A Jewish home for the elderly in Manchester, northern England, has been threatened with closure due to mounting debts � and families of the residents are battling to save it. Those responsible for residents at Newlands in Salford, Greater Manchester, were informed by mail that the institution can not continue to operate and were offered alternative accommodation.

The home is owned and managed by Greater Manchester Jewish Housing Association. GMJHA was founded some 40 years ago to provide housing for elderly people from the Jewish Community in Manchester, Salford and the surrounding area.
Although Newlands has only been open for 13 years, the GMJHA advised families of those living there to find alternative arrangements.

David Helman, chief executive of the GMJHA, said: �Keeping in mind that this was a not-for-profit home, facing ever-increasing costs for staffing, energy and food, on top of the current deficit at which the home was running, this demanded a radical decision by our board of management to agree to the closure.”

Diane Durban, whose father Abraham Ginsberg, has been a resident in Newlands since March, urged the local community to band together to raise cash to save the home.

She told the Jewish Telegraph: “Maybe members of our community could rally round with their support. Newlands is a small, but extremely caring home.

“Something needs to be done sooner rather than later, or the benefits of the home to the elderly community would be lost for ever and that would be unforgivable.”

Lucette Tucker, chairman of the GMJHA board, said the lack of government funding meant it was practicaly impossible for the home to continue to operate.

“The association can no longer carry the burden of under-funding by the Government,� the Jewish Telegraph quoted her as saying. �Obviously, we intend to work with families to ensure that our residents are safely and happily settled elsewhere.�

The daughter of one resident has called on her local MP to help keep the institution open.

Social worker Rosalyn Morris, whose father is in Newlands, praised the home for its care and has written to MP Ivan Lewis to ask for help.

In her letter she wrote: “I am most distressed at the total lack of regard that seems to have been shown by the decision-makers. There was absolutely no warning given either to the public or professionals until letters arrived announcing a �done deal�.”

Newlands provides round the clock care from a dedicated team of care staff under the direction of the Home Manager. Residents are encouraged to be as independent as possible, within a caring, comfortable and secure environment with a full programme of entertainment.

The kitchens at Newlands are under the supervision of the Manchester Beth Din and the Shomer/Chaplain looks after residents spiritual needs for Shabbat and festivals.
EJP