ELDERLY residents who were threatened with upheaval when the owners of their care home announced its closure may have been granted a reprieve.

Relatives of people living at The Chestnuts Nursing and Dementia Care Home in Cambridge Park, Wanstead, were told it would close in seven weeks’ time because of money problems and owner Avril Stein's poor health.

But a message from Ms Stein that was pinned to a board at the care home yesterday (Tuesday) said: “There has been substantial interest shown regarding the sale of the home as an on-going concern.

“This will obviously be the best outcome for all and our aim is to achieve this if possible.”

Carol Walsh, 44, whose 84-year-old grandmother lives at the home, has been pressurising Ms Stein and social services, along with other families, to find a solution that does not involve moving their frail relatives.

“Because of the pressure we’ve been putting on, the statement came out yesterday,” she said.

She added that the group had requested meetings with Ms Mills, and she had met Wanstead MP John Cryer to discuss the situation.

“He said he was going to write to the head of social services at Redbridge and Waltham Forest,” she added. “He said he would request that they support the home financially for another couple of months, to allow it either to be sold to another care home or give relatives time to look for suitable alternatives.

“Maybe because of the pressure, (Ms Stein) is coming around. It proves there’s something happening.”

But Kay Poh, whose mother is due to celebrate her 100th birthday at the home in a few weeks' time, said she was still looking for an alternative place for her to live after seeing the notice.

“Providing she means it, it’s a relief,” she said. “But we’re now down to seven weeks and you just don’t know what to do.

“It’s very up in the air. I’ve been to look at two homes, but hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”

Tayvanie Nagendran, of Cambridge Park Nursing Home next door, said last week that she and other directors there had offered to buy the home, but it is not yet clear what other offers have been made.

The Guardian has asked Ms Steins’ solicitors to comment.

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