EIGHTEEN elderly residents were told this week they have a month to find somewhere else to live after their care home went bust.

Ashley Manor Nursing Home in Shedfield is set to close after it was put into administration with debts of more than £200,000.

The care home’s manager has been forced to leave and “temporary arrangements” have been put in place to care for residents as the home winds up.

Karen Ward, whose 79-year-old mother lives in the home, said she was shocked by the news of its closure.

She said: “The home was so friendly and caring.

“But there was a shambolic meeting between the administrators and the residents that showed no compassion and simply told them they had to be out.

“I’m not even sure where my mum is going to end up, the council is saying it could take up two weeks for solution to be found, it’s completely unacceptable.”

Ashley Manor ran into financial difficulties after it was rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2015.

It had between 20 and 30 residents at the time but that fell to just 12 after the CQC discovered staff shortages, dirty conditions and poor practices that left residents in danger of malnutrition and dehydration.

But after new management took over the CQC has said standards at the home were clean and that health needs were met.

Care home manager Gerald Pereira, who lived on the premises, said he had was “furious” and “disgusted at the behaviour of the administrators who gave him just 40 minutes to pack his things and leave on Tuesday.

Mr Pereira claimed the business was recovering: “These guys should talk to residents and the CQC about how the care home has gone from strength to strength.

“After the initial meeting, there was no official notice given and we were just told on the spot that the home was going to close, it’s completely unacceptable.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “Each family is being allocated a social worker and we are in discussions with each resident about their needs and preferences. While we look for new homes, residents will continue to be cared for in Ashley Manor with the care overseen by our dedicated County Council care team.”

Administrators RSM refused to comment on the claims that they had acted in an unacceptable manner but issued the following statement: “Since their appointment, the joint administrators have been undertaking a review into the financial situation of the business in order to determine how to proceed and have reached the conclusion that it is not feasible to continue to trade the business. As a result, they have taken the difficult decision to close the home.”