ELDERLY residents of a South Lakeland care home face being left without beds after the owners announced it may have to close.

Relatives of the 27 people paying for care at the Westerley home, at Grange-over-Sands, were left fearing for their loved ones’ well-being after receiving a letter saying the home was facing uncertainty.

More than 20 staff at the home, on The Esplanade, are also at risk being made redundant.

The letter told residents that during surveys looking at completing some remedial works, more fundamental issues were discovered with the Victorian building.

The letter continues by saying it would not be possible to secure the required finance, estimated at more than £800,000.

The home is one of four Westerley Christian care homes in the country, which are operated by The Leaders of Worship and Preachers Homes (LWPH).

Trevor Smith, 70, from Kents Bank, is worried about what the future holds for his wife, Jean, who has dementia and has only been in the Westerley home for a couple of months.

He said: “The home has reached the age when a significant refurbishment is required, especially in respect of the hot-and-cold water system. Apparently, LWPH are not prepared to make the necessary investment.

“The management and staff are so hard-working, kind, compassionate and sincere, I am comforted in the certainty that my wife is secure and properly cared for.

“A change of any kind for a dementia sufferer is a major trauma. I dread to think of how some of the residents will survive, let alone cope – unless an alternative solution can be found.”

Adrian Needham, executive officer of LWPH, insisted that closure was not yet the definitive course of action, and a redundancy consultation period will now take place with staff.

“First of all, no decision has been made to close it down,” he said.

“The issue with the home isn’t complicated. It has heating systems we were looking to replace and whilst there’s a need for that there’s a greater need to deal with the old water pipes which date back to the 1970s. And the projected costs of the work is in the order of £800,000.

“The sticking point is the work cannot be done with the residents in situ.”

Another letter was sent to staff members informing them of potential redundancy following a meeting between the board of LWPH and staff earlier this month.

That letter makes reference to losses of over £250,000 since 2009 as a result of low occupancy, but the home is understood to currently be full with 14 people waiting.

It also stated that having considered historic financial issues and poor occupancy figures the Board proposes it must close.

Care assistant Hayley Dixon said: “I’ve seen colleagues break down crying because they believe they’ve lost their jobs and don’t know what they’re going to do.

“It’s upsetting to see the residents and my colleagues have their lives turned upside-down.

“I think it’s disgusting to be honest. The company has not only failed the staff but also the residents – some have been here for ten years, it’s their home.”