TWO old folks' homes could be sold off and turned into very sheltered housing.

Killelea House in Bury and Claremont in Prestwich have been singled out because the social services department is broke and cannot upgrade them.

Elderly residents would not be moved out, but may have their bedrooms turned into self-contained flats, with daily visits from care staff.

Killelea and Claremont are the only council-run homes which have not been refurbished to meet modern registration requirements.

Bosses of the cash-strapped department say there is no chance of raising the £800,000 needed to do the work.

But a housing association would be able to raise the cash through other sources.

The idea is a key element of the council's earlier report on the accommodation needs of older people.

This revealed that there were too many residential homes in the borough and a shortage of sheltered housing, one of the reasons why Croich Hey old folks home was closed this year.

Councillors at Tuesday's (Sep 16) social services committee were presented with five options for the two homes, including closure.

Converting them to very sheltered housing in partnership with a housing

association is the department's favoured option.

Officers are now carrying out a full feasibility study on the personal and financial implications of such a scheme.

Mr David Ashworth, director of social services, said some money might be saved because staffing ratios would be lower.

"Even if it cost the same, we can offer a better living environment for people," he said.

What was created would depend on people's individual needs. Some residents might have self-contained bedsits, other might need a communal kitchen and facilities.

The frequency of daily visits by care staff would also vary depending on a person's circumstances and need.

"I think people in Bury would prefer to go into very sheltered accommodation where they have security and their own facilities rather than an old folks home which badly needs refurbishment," said Mr Ashworth.

"I doubt if we would save money, but we would not have the difficulty and embarrassment of running two homes which don't come up to registration standards we expect of the private sector."

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