THE son of an 81-year-old man who died six months after being forced to leave his care home said he will never forgive the decision-makers who initiated the move.

Alzheimer's victim Stanley Burrell suffered a steady decline following his relocation from Staffordshire County Council-run Roseneath, in Stone, to the private care home Orsett House, in Barlaston.

Mr Burrell was admitted to hospital at the beginning of this month, but passed away on October 3.

His adopted son Simon, aged 44, said: "The decision-makers need to consider the views of the families, and those who cannot be heard because they are suffering from dementia, for example, and to look ahead.

"This should be the priority instead of getting these people out the way, knocking the homes down and leaving the families to sort it all out.

"I'll never forgive them for the decision they made. Those care homes were not just where the residents lived; they were their homes and where they had been used to. The council should realise that."

Mr Burrell added that when his father, head of English at Sandon High School, Meir, for 25 years, was moved from Roseneath, the family noticed a significant decline in his health.

He added: "He lost a lot of weight, and there was a great change in his general aura.

"Dad had been at Rosenneath for three years, and it was his home. His death was no fault of either care home. The staff at both places were fantastic, and the care he received at Orsett House was excellent.

"The staff made dad's last few months as comfortable and dignified as they could. But he should not have been moved. If you're wrenched out of your home at that stage of your life, it's going to have an effect on you."

Staffordshire County Council closed all but seven of its 21 care homes for the elderly as part of the Changing Lives Programme.

Paula Furnival, the council's social care and health district director for Stafford, said:"We are very sorry to hear of the family's loss.

"The Changing Lives programme is already bringing long-term benefits to thousands of older residents in Staffordshire, and will do for many years to come.

"The closure of homes was handled with as much care for the individuals concerned as possible, although we appreciate that some families were not happy with the process."

Mr Burrell's funeral will be at All Saints' Church, Sandon, Tuesday, October 14, at 2pm.