Care home resident fears becoming homeless at 92

Dorothy Devereux has lived at Woodlands Home for Older People in Clayton-le-Moors since 2014

A 92-year-old care home resident says she's "devastated" at the thought of losing her home.

Dorothy Devereux has lived at Woodlands Home for Older People in Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, since 2014 but is worried it could close due following a council review.

Lancashire County Council runs Woodlands as well as four other care homes and five day centres. Tasked with having to make savings, the local authority is examining its provision and has yet to make a decision.

"I'm frustrated, I'm angry, I thought I was going to live the rest of my life happily in Woodlands," said Dorothy. "If I go out of here, it'll either be in a box, or it'll be kicking and screaming and they'll have to force me out."

Woodlands is one of 10 care facilities being reviewed by Lancashire County Council

Dorothy, who needs 24-hour care due to mobility issues, said: "I've sold my home and now here I am potentially homeless.

"They'll have to find me somewhere to go and I won't go quietly."

The Reform UK-run county council needs to make about £103m in savings and closing the care facilities could contribute £4m.

If the care homes do close, it will leave families trying to find replacement provision against a backdrop of long waiting lists and top-up fees at some private homes.

Dorothy believes closing the homes would not save much money.

She said she had three questions: "Where on earth are we all going to go? Where are they going to get the money to do that? Why can't they put it in homes where we can live happily?"

'Eight-week consultation'

Graham Dalton, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for adult social care, has previously said: "This is a review of how things are done and how adequate they are, if these buildings aren't suitable, if the care is not suitable or something needs to change.

"No decision has been made."

The other care homes being reviewed are Favordale in Colne, Grove House in Adlington, Milbanke in Kirkham, and Thornton House in Thornton Cleveleys.

The day centres are Byron View in Colne, the Derby Centre in Ormskirk, Milbanke Day Centre in Kirkham, Teal Close in Thornton Cleveleys and Vale View in Lancaster.

The consultation will run for eight weeks, with recommendations being brought back to members for a final decision in February.