Porirua home to close in 2022

Harbourview Care Home in Porirua will close down in 2022, affecting 54 residents.

The closure comes after the rest home’s owner, Bupa Villages & Aged Care, commissioned an independent report which revealed extensive weathertightness issues in the building.

Bupa managing director Carolyn Cooper said the company initially considered fixing the home while it was still occupied.

However, the advice provided by project managers was that the whole home would need to be vacated for a significant amount of time to safely carry out the works.

‘‘Our number one priority is to now work with our people, residents and their whā nau to achieve a smooth transition to a new care home and for our people into new roles. Harbourview will not close before 6 March 2022, and not until the last resident is settled in their new home.’’

Bupa also owns Bupa Crofton Downs and Bupa Whitby.

Myra Leggett is a 97-year-old resident of the care home. Her son Ross said moving was bound to be stressful for his mother.

He said he was sceptical that the building was in such poor condition that it needed to be demolished and believed the decision was more about increasing profits.

Bupa’s website listed the care home as providing 58 beds for rest-home, hospital and dementia care within one building.

Cooper said Bupa was aiming to retain as many staff as possible in alternative roles and was offering a free and confidential counselling service for staff, residents, and families.