Three women in 90s face eviction from home due to `bad behaviour`

Three women in their 90s have been asked to leave a sheltered
home because of alleged disruptive behaviour, writes
Alex Dobson.

The three women have been asked to leave Abbeyfield House in
Stow-on-the-Wold after receiving warnings that their behaviour
caused a series of staff resignations, and is threatening the
home’s long term future.

But the three residents deny that their behaviour has caused
disruption and an unpleasant atmosphere at the home run by the
Abbeyfield Society

Celia Gill, aged 94, Anita Merrick, aged 92, and another
94-year-old resident who does not want to be named, have been told
that their ‘haughty and divisive’ behaviour and
critical comments must cease. The three women say they are not
trouble-makers, and that they simply wish to draw attention to
issues that they do not feel comfortable with.

Stephen Boyo, Housing Policy Officer at Age Concern, said the
situation could have been avoided: “We are very concerned about the
deep distress this is likely to have caused to the residents, and
the way that the situation has been allowed to develop.

A spokesperson for the Abbeyfield Society said: “It is part of
Abbeyfield’s ethos to maintain a pleasant domestic atmosphere
for the benefit of residents and all concerned. At Abbeyfield House
this atmosphere is threatened, and the local Abbeyfield Stow
Society is doing all it can to restore harmony.

“It is working to resolve the difficulties with three residents
who have received two verbal warnings, and then a written warning
informing them that disruptive behaviour must cease, so that all
the residents can live together peacefully in the house,” he
said.

Gloucestershire council said that social services was already
providing support for one of the women involved in the Abbeyfield
House row.