A growing staffing crisis is forcing rural care homes in Scotland to shut temporarily, leaving vulnerable residents and their families struggling to cope.
In Mallaig, a care home run by the NHS was closed for 18 months, while another in Gairloch is set to reopen this spring after shutting last summer.
The closures have affected dozens of staff and residents, highlighting the deepening recruitment challenges in the care sector.
Shanna Eddie, deputy manager at the Mackintosh Centre in Mallaig, described the closure as devastating.
The facility was forced to shut between July 2023 and November 2024, with residents relocated to another home nearly an hour away.
Many families found it difficult to visit their loved ones, particularly those without access to transport. Eddie expressed relief when the centre was finally able to welcome residents back after staffing levels improved.
NHS Highland acknowledged that the reopening would not have been possible without the dedication of staff and the local community.
The care sector’s struggles are partly due to Scotland’s ageing population. More than one million people in Scotland are aged 65 or over, according to National Records of Scotland.
Census data also reveals that the over-65 population in the Highlands has grown by 5.2% in the past decade, compared to a 3.3% rise across Scotland.
The Western Isles now has one of the highest proportions of elderly residents, with 27% aged 65 or older.
Depopulation, a lack of affordable housing for staff, and competition from the tourism and retail sectors have worsened recruitment challenges.
Strathburn House in Gairloch was forced to shut in July due to staffing shortages, leaving NHS Highland with no choice but to suspend operations. The home is expected to reopen in spring.
Moss Park, a 40-bed home in Fort William, had been facing permanent closure after struggling to retain staff. However, a local campaign secured a takeover deal, with Highland Council and NHS Highland set to assume control next month.
Pamela Stott, NHS Highland’s chief officer for adult social care, acknowledged the multiple factors behind recruitment difficulties. She pointed to economic conditions, workforce competition, and depopulation as key challenges.
To tackle the crisis, some care providers are introducing innovative recruitment strategies.
Parklands is constructing a new care home in Inverness, set to open in May, and will require 120 staff. To attract workers, the company is also building 24 rental apartments for employees, addressing the issue of affordable housing.
Other homes are engaging with local schools to encourage young people to consider careers in social care. In the Western Isles, students can take a foundation apprenticeship course in social care, gaining hands-on experience at Seaforth House in Stornoway.
Fairburn, an independent care home in the Highlands, has partnered with Dingwall Academy to offer work experience placements.
Lexie, a high school student working at Fairburn, said the experience has been rewarding. She spends several hours at the home after school each week and sees it as a welcoming, family-like environment.
The Scottish government recognises the urgency of the issue. Social Care Minister Maree Todd, who represents Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, admitted that providing care services in rural areas is one of the toughest challenges in the country.
With care home closures continuing to disrupt lives, providers and policymakers are under increasing pressure to find long-term solutions to Scotland’s growing social care crisis.
