SCORES of elderly resident are now desperately searching for a place to live after a Test Valley nursing home announced it would be closing, just days before Christmas.

Oaklands nursing home shocked locals when it delivered the news, which came just before a CQC inspection labelled it as Inadequate, placing it in special measures - however owners Delicourt Limited say the decision was made before the report was published.

The inspectors’ scathing report found the home to be in a poor state, with medicines not managed in a safe manner, risk assessments not being carried out, care records lacking up to date information and residents “not always valued and respected as individuals”.

The home, which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 45 older people, some of who live with mental health problems or dementia, will close on December 20.

Shelly Watts, of Shelley Watts Care and Training Consultancy, who is part of the team consulting with and supporting the home during the closure, said: “The decision was taken to close the home before the content of the CQC report was known. The home had previously been rated requires improvement.

“This has been largely due to the home struggling to recruit staff for the past two years.

“Oaklands is a beautiful home but set in a very rural community. It has been a challenge to recruit staff due to this fact. There are few transport links. In effect the geography and demographic of the area of the home worked against recruiting locally.

“The provider has made great efforts to recruit from overseas or further afield and secured accommodation in the local area to assist staff to relocate if that was feasible.

“However the uncertainty caused by Brexit has affected recruitment overseas and this has been reflected in maintaining regular staffing levels. To ensure a continuous level of good care, agency staff have been employed.

“The provider has taken the decision this month that that is not a sustainable option if continuity of care is to be maintained.

“By this I mean the relationships and interactions which are vital when caring in this environment. The welfare of those who reside at Oaklands is the most important factor.

“It has been a terribly hard decision to make.”

She added: “The priority since the decision was made is to ensure the continued care and wellbeing of those resident at Oaklands whilst new homes are found.

“Oaklands is working very hard and extremely closely with the local social services team to manage the transition of those who live at Oaklands, to find new accommodation and support them and their families and friends through the process.

“Oaklands is working very closely with the core staff to support them in seeking new employment. The decision was relayed to the staff as soon as it was known and they have been working very hard to support those who live at Oaklands and their families and friends.

“Unfortunately the closure of this home reflects a sad story becoming all too typical in social care today.

“It has been with great regret that the decision has been made. “

However, relatives of those living at the home have voiced their concern at the decision.

David Reading, whose mother-in-law is a resident, said: “We had a phone call (the other week) telling us the nursing home will be closing and we have ten weeks to find an alternative for her.

“The mother-in-law suffers from severe dementia, this will be devastating for her. She was a resident at Nightingale, until we were told to move her, this had a massive effect on her then and will again.

“A staff member recently was quite open and telling us the staff are on minimum wage.”

He added: “What we find unbelievable is the short notice, they were more than happy to take extortionate amounts of money to take her in and offered a kind, caring place for life.

“The mother-in-law is no longer self funding so finding a place will be extremely difficult. Social services say they are desperate for places as it is without this extra closure.

“As we live in Romsey, Nightingale was perfect for visiting, Wellow required more consideration in visiting we are now told we might have to look at places in the New Forest – further to travel will mean less visits.

“I appreciate this is a private Nursing home but when they charge so much, which many are topped up from public money, I believe they should be more accountable.”

Cllr Harmeet Singh Brar, vice chair of Wellow Parish Council, was also disappointed to hear of the closure.

He said: “Having lived in the village all of my life, I have also worked at Oaklands when I was at college and know a number of families who have worked at the home – it has been one of the major employers of the village.

“We are not only losing jobs in the village but also a service; the village has had a care home sine the early 1980’s and it is a service of which I hope will (one day) return to the village.

“I have spoken to the owner of the home who is also very sad that 15 years of him running the home as come to a end like this.

“I hope that there is a buyer for the home and we can back this service to the village.”