Woman of 108 dies after hunger strike protest over care home move

A 108-year-old woman forced to move to a new care home in May
died last month after going on hunger strike.

Alice Knight was moved to Laurel Lodge in Norfolk when nearby
Flordon House, where she had lived for the previous six years, was
closed down.

The owner of Flordon House blamed the closure of the home on the
introduction of the new care standards bought in under the Care
Standards Act 2000.

A spokesperson for Laurel Lodge said: “Everyone involved in
planning Alice’s move from Flordon House recognised that
everything possible needed to be done if someone of her great age
was to settle into a new home.

“When staff realised she wasn’t eating, a doctor was
called and made regular visits to see Alice. She was a frail but
very strong-willed lady and despite efforts from everyone around
her, including her family, she would not eat.”