A COUNCIL has outlined its vision over care for elderly people in the wake of criticism over plans to close all its care homes.

Labour-run Durham County Council has announced it is considering shutting all its residential care homes.

It closed 13 homes a few years ago in a plan to modernise services for pensioners and now, following a consultant's recommendation, is looking at closing the remaining 12.

The closures would be phased and residents helped to find places in privately owned homes in a "sensitive and unhurried" programme.

But fears have been raised about the impact on residents, some of whom are in their 80s and 90s and have lived at the homes for years.

The council says people do not want to spend their twilight years in residential homes and that the £3m it estimates the move would save annually could be spent on improving services to help them live independently in their homes.

The first round of closures was accompanied by the building of six housing association-run "extra care homes", which offer greater independence to residents.

Councillor Christine Smith, the cabinet member for adult social care and health, said yesterday: "It represents a new vision for the future based on promoting people's independence and developing services which they say they want, to support them at home."

The council stresses that no final decision has been taken and, early next month, its cabinet will consider consulting on the proposals. Independent councillor John Shuttleworth, whose Weardale division includes Newton House, at Stanhope, which is under threat, predicted strong opposition.

He said: "There will be total uproar about it in Weardale and probably in other places too. You cannot get better care than in a county council home.

"I fear that having to move will cause a lot of upset among the residents, some of whom have been there for years, and it could cause deaths. There is also the danger that if we have to rely on the private sector for care, the prices will just shoot up."

Howard Pink, regional officer for the council workers' union Unison, said members were concerned about the impact on residents and on their jobs.

He said: "If you get rid of your own provision and leave it to the private sector, there is nothing you can do if it does not meet people's needs."

Stanhope parish councillor Angela Bolam, who has two relatives at Newton House, said: "I do not think my mother could handle it. It will be devastating for the residents."

The affected homes are: Lynwood House, in Lanchester; East Green, in West Auckland; Hackworth House, in Shildon; Cheveley House, in Belmont; Newton House, in Stanhope; Shafto House, in Newton Aycliffe; Feryemount, in Ferryhill; Grampian House, in Peterlee; Glendale House, in Blackhall; Manor House, in Annfield Plain; Stanfield House, in Stanley; and Mendip House, in Chester-le-Street.

Wellfield House, in Murton, has already closed.