Woman, 102, dies after ‘eviction’

A 102-year-old woman who was forced to leave the care home where she had lived for nine years has died.

Winifred Humphrey had been told she must leave Bradley House in Whitstable, Kent, because the owners no longer wanted council-funded residents.

She was transferred, with 11 other residents, to another care home less than a mile away on 20 June.

Her son, Allan Humphrey from Hull, told the BBC on Tuesday that his mother had died on Monday evening, less than three weeks after the move.

He had warned she might not survive the upheaval.

“She certainly was upset by the move and I suppose this was the predictable last nail in the coffin, so to speak,” said Mr Humphrey.

“I suppose she resigned herself to the inevitable.

“She certainly wasn’t going to go on living forever, that we knew, but I think this precipitated the event.

“There was nothing anyone could do to help her.”

He said Mrs Humphrey had received good care at both Bradley House and Chesterfield House, in Whitstable, where she had been moved.

Mrs Humphrey had sold her home in 1994 to pay for the fees but Kent County Council took over responsibility for the contract after the money ran out last year.

The owners of the home, Lifestyle Care Homes, said in June that Mrs Humphrey had to leave Bradley House because the rate paid by the council did not meet its latest fee levels.

The company, which blamed the need to maintain high standards, plans to close one of its two care homes and keep only its privately-funded residents.

Condolences to family

Lifestyle Care Homes said on Tuesday they were aware of Mrs Humphrey’s death.

A spokeswoman said: “The owners and staff are very sorry to hear this news and send their condolences to the family.”

She said she was unable to comment further.

Peter Lake, cabinet member for social care and community health for Kent County Council, said: “Everyone who knew Winifred and cared for her is very saddened by this news.

“Our condolences go to her family.”