 Mrs Humphrey is one of 11 residents who were told to leave |
A 102-year-old woman has been evicted from the care home she has lived in for the past nine years. Winifred Humphrey was told she must leave Bradley House in Whitstable, Kent, because the owners no longer wanted council-funded residents.
She had sold her home in 1994 to pay for the fees but Kent County Council took over responsibility for the contract after he money ran out last year.
Mrs Humphrey left Bradley House on Friday - along with 11 other residents - and was moved to another care home less than a mile away.
 She is bewildered. She cannot understand it all  |
Two members of the public waved banners in support of Mrs Humphrey.
Mrs Humphrey's son Allan, from Hull, said: "When we told her initially she was very upset. She said 'Oh no' and then started shaking.
"It was a shock to her. This has been her home for nine years. It is home to her now and to suddenly be told you are going to have to move out at her age particularly it is very hard.
"Today she went very quiet again when we said we are going to take you away. She is bewildered. She cannot understand it all."
 Allan Humphrey had warned his mother might not survive a move |
Mr Humphrey fears his mother may not survive the upheaval of the move.
Owners of the home, Lifestyle Care Homes said Mrs Humphrey had to leave Bradley House because the rate paid by the council did not meet its latest fee levels.
The company plans to close one of its two care homes and keep only its privately-funded residents.
Oliver Mills, director of operations for Kent County Council's social services, said on Monday it was an unusual situation for the 12 council-funded residents concerned.
He said: "This particular company for their own business reasons have decided they no longer want to take people at Kent County Council prices.
"When care homes up their prices we would continue to pay for those people who remain there under the conditions we agreed.
"But in this particular case the care home has decided to change the profile of its business and not take people funded by the council.
"As I understand it, they have decided to close this home and move the people who are privately funded to their other home."
Lifestyle Care Homes has declined to comment when approached by the BBC.
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