Sir.–I am writing to you with great concern about the proposed closure of Deeside Care Home in Basingstoke.

My mother is 98 and has been in the care home for four years. She suffers from dementia and is settled in the home and happy. I fear that any change in her circumstances, eg moving her to a new home or as suggested sheltered housing, is totally inappropriate and will cause unnecessary suffering.

I do not believe that Hampshire Country Council should be looking at closing a care home, particularly when there is no suitable alternative accommodation in Basingstoke.

The council spent a great deal of money in 2012 on the Deeside property, redecorating, recarpeting and installing a new kitchen, and more recently they have spent additional money on an electrical upgrade.

We understand that Deeside is not the most up-to-date care home from external appearances. However, it is clean, secure and comfortable for all the residents and the service provided there by the nursing staff has been faultless, which in view of recent experiences nationwide can only be highly recognised and rewarded.

I also understand that the belief is that more elderly people wish to remain in their own homes. However, when a patient has dementia, this is totally impossible and unrealistic.

May I thank The Gazette for their recent coverage of this issue, and can we appeal for the support from the people of Basingstoke? We may all need a care home one day. –Mr Les Wyatt, Basingstoke resident.

Sir.–I was dismayed to read that Hampshire County Council is considering closing Deeside Care Home (The Gazette, July 25).

I am conscious that a consultation exercise is under way and comments from the members of the public are said to be “welcome”.

The reality is, if the council has decided to close a care home, this will happen regardless of the opinion of any third parties.

The mind boggles as to why the council is considering closing a care home when the number of elderly people in the area is increasing and, inevitably, more people will need places in care homes.

I note the statement from the council that elderly people prefer to stay in their homes rather than move into places like Deeside. However, in a great many cases, this option has already been considered before a person goes into a care home, and then discounted on the basis that the individual needs a higher level of care.

I am conscious that, in these stringent times, money must be a concern for local authorities and I am sympathetic to this. However, I find it staggering that once again the most vulnerable people in society are being targeted as a way to make savings. –Darren Fearnley, Princes Crescent, South Ham, Basingstoke.

Sir.–I read with anger the story regarding the possible closure of Deeside and three other council-funded homes in Hampshire.

How can the line that there is less demand for residential homes be true when many very expensive new private homes have been allowed to be built? The real story is that there is a two-tier system now, and if you are not a private self-funder, there is absolutely nowhere to go in this town if you have dementia.

I have been trying to move my father, who has dementia to Basingstoke, for nearly a year. I feel there is even less chance of that happening now.

Money has to be found to update Deeside and others now. This is a disgrace. –Mark Green, Woolford Way, Basingstoke.