A 97-year-old war veteran has been left in ‘limbo’ after his care home provider announced a consultation on the possible closure of his home.

The Abbeyfield Society told the residents and relatives living at 43 of its homes in May that the properties were under consultation to decide on their future, including homes in Amersham, Princes Risborough and Wendover.

Julie Powell’s 97-year-old D-Day war veteran dad living at Mansil House in Amersham has been left upset by the announcement.  

Julie, who lives in Chalfont St Giles, said: “I’m horrified that this is happening to him. He is a white beret who was at Normandy.

“I’ve been looking for elsewhere for dad to go but there just aren’t anywhere. Abbeyfield is unique. A lot of people don’t understand it’s independent living, it’s not actual care and it’s quite rare, it really is.

“When we found Abbeyfield it was perfect, because he can still look after himself. They provide assisted living, cook his meal and give the flat a run through once a week. But mentally he’s all there and independent.

“I dread to think where he’s going after this.”

The former bricklayer has lived in Amersham for the past 20 years and all his networks are in the area, including Julie, who is his “rock”.

The pair meet around four times a week and speak on the phone every day.

But Julie said she fears the pensioner’s money is not enough to afford anywhere in Amersham or the villages. In the worst-case scenario, Julie’s dad will have to move to Kent where he doesn’t know anyone, she said.

Abbeyfield Society, whose patron King Charles is, told Mansil House residents in a letter sent in May that following the review process “it is with regret that we have identified some properties which we feel can no longer be operated sustainably.”

This was because the properties, including Mansil House, no longer meet the needs of older people or future regulatory requirements, or the costs of upgrading the home to meet modern standards “would be too great, even if spread over 30 years,” the letter said.

After consideration of the available options and the cost of the work, Abbeyfield “made the difficult decision” to begin consultations on the “closure of Mansil House and a number of other homes,” the letter continued.

In a statement to the Free Press, Abbeyfield Society did not use the word ‘closure’, instead referring to the “difficult decision to begin consulting on the future of Mansil House in Amersham.”

The Society’s head of communications Catherine Jacques said the consultation will not necessarily result in the homes’ closure.

However, Julie said she feared they have “already decided what they are going to do.”

She claimed Mansil House residents were told the consultation will run until the end of August.

Amersham and Chesham MP Sarah Green said: “I am in touch with the Abbeyfield Society about Mansil House have raised concerns with them. I am also supporting residents and staff at what is a worrying time for them all.“

The Abbeyfield Society said in a statement that they conduct periodic reviews of all of its homes to make sure they remain suitable.

They continued: “These reviews additionally factored the investment required to bring them up to modern standards and whether they are able to meet new regulatory and energy efficiency requirements.

“We also needed to reflect how the past few difficult years have impacted the organisation’s finances, particularly the impact of the Covid pandemic, the huge increase in energy prices, rising inflation, and rapidly increasing operating costs.

“Having fully considered the findings of this review, it is with regret that we made the difficult decision to begin consulting on the future of Mansil House in Amersham and Church Street in Princes Risborough.

“Everybody taking part in the consultation process has the opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas and any proposals they may have before a final decision is made.

“We fully acknowledge the impact that this consultation, and any potential outcomes, will have on our residents and colleagues in particular, and we are doing everything we can to support and assist them through this difficult process.”