“Moss Park Care Home absolutely must stay open,” says Rebecca Machin, the SNP by election candidate for Fort William and Ardnamurchan ward on the Highland Council.
“I will work with anyone: the administrators; the owners and the community to move this towards the right resolution as my number one priority.” she adds.
“Residential and nursing care is undoubtedly the emergency of the moment but the issues within social care are both wider and deeper.
“So far, we’ve been knocking on literally thousands of doors and – both in Lochaber and on the Ardnamurchan peninsula – social care is a huge issue.”
Machin has been to community meetings about the potential closing of a care home in the area, spoken to community medical professionals as well as listening to potential voters.
“Like many people, I’ve had experience of caring for people, cradle to grave,” Machin says.
“I vividly remember what it was like, even on a full time teaching salary, to afford childcare: and that was thirty years ago!
“I had to take second jobs, I had to move to where the work was.
“The only thing which kept me in the profession was that I understood I needed to invest in the career and pension long term.”
“Childcare,” Machin continues, “is simply too expensive and too poorly paid for the practitioners and, because of that, in too short supply.
“Later, I cared for my mother-in-law who has dementia.
“My partner and I kept her at home as best we could, as long as we could.
“We both stepped back from promoted posts to care for her.
“We were also in the privileged position of being able to afford adaptation and extra help at home.
“But, once again, the carers were nearly all women and turnover was high as these young women were struggling to afford childcare for their own children.
“It is a cycle,” Rebecca goes on to say.
“The system disincentivises 52% of the population to work by placing barriers in their way which makes it very tough for them.
“What we need is far better local solutions.
“It is better for the individuals, it’s better for local communities and it would be better for the economy too.
“We need support for people to keep loved ones at home and we need better pay for carers – both of children and young people and of older folk who, with adaptations and local support, could be at home, safer, healthier and longer.
“There’s no magic bullet,” Machin admits.
“But most people, most of the time are sensible and want solutions.
“By listening and working together we can find a way to make that cycle of caring a little less bleak and a lot better for society as a whole.”
