It has been confirmed a privately-owned North East care home will be closing its doors in future, leaving multiple residents in limbo.
Stockton Borough Council have confirmed Ashwood Lodge Care Home, situated on Bedale Road in Bllingham, will close its doors in the future, after being informed of their decision in the last few days.
This comes after rumours suggested the care home's parent company had dissolved, though a representative from Ashwood Lodge said this was a separate company involved in acquiring the business last year.
The council have said they will be working with the home's 18 residents and their familes to find suitable alternative accomodation that matches their needs.
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There is currently no date set for the closure, and arrangements are yet to be made concerning the home's staff.
Councillor Ann McCoy, Stockton Council's cabinet member for adult social care, said: "Ashwood Lodge Care Home's provider, Nationwide Healthcare Ltd, have notified us of their intention to close the home and we will be working with the home's 18 residents and their families to find suitable alternative accommodation to meet their needs.
"Our main priority is to support residents and their family members during this difficult time. We will be doing this with the utmost sensitivity to residents' needs whilst working closely with Nationwide Healthcare Ltd."
Concerns regarding the future of the care home, which cares for people over 65 and people with dementia and has a rating from regulator Care Quality Commission (CQC) of "good", were raised with The Northern Echo last week.
According to Companies House, care company Ashwood Lodge Ltd, was incorporated in August last year, carrying the home's address, and was dissolved on Tuesday (January 17).
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An application to strike the company off the register was made on September 30 and a notice that the company would be struck off the register was given on October 11.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service approached the home about the matter, and was told the dissolved company had nothing to do with the care home.
It was said the company never ran the home, it was opened as it was set to acquire the residence, but the sale fell through and the firm was closed.
Following queries last week, a representative from the home claimed it was not in any financial danger and was still running as before.
The care home is owned by parent company Nationwide Healthcare Ltd, whose headquarters are located in Gosforth, Newcastle according to Companies House.
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It is listed as still active and providing residential nursing care facilities.
The NHS and CQC websites confirm that Nationwide Healthcare runs Ashwood Lodge Care Home, and its contact details are listed as the care home.
The care home has been contacted for comment, and a representative told The Northern Echo they were informed of the home's decision on Sunday (January 22).
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