Dom Polski, a specialist care home that cares for vulnerable dementia patients is closing without consultation in 8 weeks, putting the vulnerable residents’ futures at risk. We, the Dom Polski Action Group, a group set up by the families of the residents, are looking to contest the decision to close the specialist home.

Group Chairperson, Ms Pieczarka said:

“My Babcia [Granny] … has flourished at Dom Polski; staying at the home, with its residents, staff and routine is essential to her wellbeing. The staff take fastidious care of all of the residents … it’s no exaggeration that for some of the residents the move may well be too much.”

The Society of Christ made the decision to close the specialist home, which cares for vulnerable residents with advanced dementia in their 80’s and 90’s, on the 15th of April 2019, with no warning or possibility of rebuttal. The Society of Christ intends to turn the home into a Provincial Home for priests and expect the residents to move out within a matter of weeks, seemingly without compassion or concern for their future care.

The families wish to contest this decision on behalf of their vulnerable members who are residents at Dom Polski. The Society of Christ is going against its own mission statement by refusing ongoing care for its residents at Dom Polski; as stated by their own website the Society of Christ claims that:

“Standing before so many needs of the Polish migrants, the Society of Christ realizes the fact, that the needs for pastoral care are greater that its own personnel resources.”

The Society of Christ is in part funded by the donations of the families and the wider Polish Catholic Communities in the UK.

The worry now for the residents is their care moving forward, the residents need specialist dementia care and Polish speaking carers, as many have struggled to maintain their English with worsening dementia. Many residents have distressing memories from the war and German occupation of Poland and the retrogressive factor of dementia might worsen should their home and routines change.

The home, which has provided them care, a sense of community and family over the years has been a safe haven for the residents and the families are heartbroken that it is closing.

Resident’s Stories:

Jadwiga Dyrbus (96)

Mrs Dyrbus was born in Bialystok, Poland on Christmas Day 1922 and was the eldest daughter of seven children. She cared for her siblings when her own mum died young and came to the UK in 1946, after being released from a German Labour Camp by British forces.

She met her husband Alec Dyrbus in the UK and they married in 1951, setting up home in Bolton, where they had one daughter, Christina Mathews. Mrs Dyrbus worked for many years in a leather factory in Bolton, where she cut patterns for leather jackets.

Alec and Jadwiga were active members of the Polish community with Alec using his electronics background to help maintain Bolton’s Polish church, The Good Shepherd. Jadwiga was well known for her baking and for helping at church social events. Both were also members of the church’s social club, and particularly enjoyed dancing the polka.

After Alec died in 2001, Jadwiga maintained her independence and was able to live in her own home until 2017. She is currently Dom Polski’s oldest resident.

Christina Mathews commented: “My parents were really proud of their Polish roots and they were also immensely grateful to the UK for the chance to start a new life after the war.

“They really contributed to the community and helped to keep the church going when congregation numbers were low, so it’s particularly galling that this decision is being made by a charitable organisation which has four priests as its trustees.”

Grazyna Brylska (93) and Leszek Brylski (d.)

Grazyna and her brother Leszek came to the UK after the second world war as political exiles due to their father being a member of the Polish Sejem [Parliament]. For many years, they were unable to return home due to the annexation of their region of Poland to the USSR, with lands and property confiscated.

Once settled in the UK, both Grazyna and Leszek were proud supporters of the church and Dom Polski. Frazyna moved in to Dom Polski in 2014 and remains a resident today, while Leszek lived at Dom Polski from 2017 until his death in April 2018.

Anna Jones, daughter of Leszek commented: “Both by dad and his sister were always very grateful for Britain for allowing them to stay and somehow rebuild their lives. They were active members of the Polish community and were proud supporters of Dom Polski.

“We all felt Dom Polski was a fantastic venture – it was great to have a facility which could lovingly care for members of the community in a way which made them feel safe as they became older and frailer. Today it feels incredibly insulting that my aunt has to leave the home in which she hoped to spend her last days.”

A History of Manchester’s Polish Community and Support for Society of Christ:

Many of the generation of Poles who are now in their 80s and 90s arrived in the UK after the Second World War, having been released from prison camps in Russia or Germany.

With their homes destroyed and labour in Britain in short supply, they were encouraged to stay by the UK Government. Many did, working in Manchester’s factories and becoming active members of the local community, while also retaining a strong sense of Polish traditions. Support for organisations like the Society of Christ, which many members of the community contributed to on a regular basis over the decades, is one manifestation of this tradition.

Donation Statement:

• All money raised will be split equally among the residents of the home after any legal costs incurred by Dom Polski Action Group in contesting the decision to close Dom Polski.

• The families of the residents have all agreed that the money will directly go to easing the expenses of moving their vulnerable family members and helping to provide them the specialist care they need. Any donations not used for this by the families or the group will be donated to Alzheimer’s Society (no. 296645).

• Updates will be posted on the page.