FAMILIES of elderly residents at a council-run care home threatened with closure say the shock of a move could be too much for their relatives.

Joined by staff, many of them attended Monday's meeting of Croydon Council's cabinet where members gave the go-ahead to start consultation on the future of Homefield House.

Closure of the home in Homefield Road, Old Coulsdon, is one of three options but the families believe it is the most likely.

They believe refurbishing and extending the home would be less disruptive for residents.

In a report presented to the cabinet the three options were analysed.

It said that doing nothing would allow the 14 permanent residents to stay put but warned the buildings and accommodation were not up to modern standards. Refurbishing the home, the report said, would require "high capital investment" to create larger bedrooms and provide other modern facilities.

This would also result in major disruption to residents and could see the temporary closure of the home.

The third option of closure, it says, would save the council £761,000 in a full year and enable it to buy places for the residents at a lower cost at other homes in the private and voluntary sector.

But the report does warn there would be upheaval for residents if this choice is pursued.

When the former Labour council set about closing old people's homes five years ago, they were warned by Tory councillors that moving elderly people could be so traumatic they may die.

The now Conservative-controlled council believes the experience gained from the earlier closures stands it in good stead to keep trauma to a minimum.

This is not a view shared by Eileen Mulvey, whose 101-year-old mother, Winifred Sullivan, lives in Homefield House.

Mrs Mulvey said: "We live not far away and someone is there with my mother every day. That would be more difficult if she was moved to another part of the borough.

"We are frightened about what might happen to her if she is forced to move away from familiar surroundings and the staff she knows and trusts.

"When we have her to our home, which we do often, she wants to go back all the time. Homefield House is her security."

Mrs Mulvey's husband James added: "Whatever is said during the consultation, we expect the answer to be closure and we envisage that could happen before Christmas."

Margaret Mead, the council's cabinet member for health and adult social care, said on Monday that no decision had been taken ahead of the consultation.

The three Coulsdon East Tory councillors have organised a meeting to discuss the proposals. It will be held at Old Coulsdon Congregational Church, in Coulsdon Road, on Wednesday, June 30, at 7.30pm.