CONFUSION about the shake-up of care for older people in St Helens is still worrying relatives, who have started a petition.

The council wants to change the use of three care homes and close three but so far has refused to release exact details, saying no decision has yet been made.

Tom Hill, who is co-ordinating a group opposed to care home changes, said: "Whenever anyone asks a question about what is happening the council always gives a standard reply that there is a borough-wide consultation and that seems to be the only thing we can get out of them."

His 85-year-old mum is in Brookfield care home in Parr. Tom said: "The time-span is affecting everyone.

"My mum is depressed about it. She's 85 and they seem to be trying to evict her from her own home.

"It's a worrying time for her."

Pamela Mitchell, of Park Road South, Newton, whose 83-year-old mum is in Larchfield, said: "They're saying people don't want to live in care homes, they want to live in the community but there comes a point when there is no other option. Moving is a big upheaval for someone of her age.

"She hasn't got dementia but suffers from depression. She was so ill when she moved into Larchfields but loves being there so much she has put on weight and started to enjoy life."

But Clr Marie Rimmer hit back at what she says are scaremongering tactics about the future of elderly people's homes in St Helens.

In a statement putting the record straight, Clr Rimmer said she was extremely annoyed over the wide range of what she calls deliberately misleading information being circulated around the borough.

She said: "No decisions have yet been made over proposals to close any homes.

"St Helens Council is currently consulting on proposals to help more people to live as independently as possible in their own homes as they grow older.

"We are currently consulting with residents, relatives, friends and staff of existing services in a bid to deliver social services that meet future needs."

She added that the consultation exercise has already been considered at a recent meeting of the all-party social care and health scrutiny panel.