A HOME for elderly and disabled people and those suffering dementia is to close after inspectors found it failed to meet their needs.

The Care Quality Commission told Esteem Care Limited they must take immediate action to improve care standards at Alexander Court Care Home, Harrogate, after an unannounced visit in July.

Inspectors found the 85-room home, which also had facilities to care for people with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, failed to provide care which was safe, effective, caring, responsive or well led.

After the four-day visit to the home, which charges residents up to £725 a week, they concluded all eight national standards were not being met and there was a lack of qualified nursing staff.

Inspectors found residents were not involved in making decisions about their care and raised concerns that some staff lacked understanding about the needs of those with dementia.

They said residents were not always receiving medicines as prescribed and the home failed to check staff qualifications and suitability.

The building and utility services were also not properly maintained.

As a result, the commission used its urgent enforcement powers to prevent the home from providing nursing care services.

All residents requiring nursing care have now been relocated.

An Esteem Care Limited spokesman said the loss of its nursing registration, meant the home was left with very few residents and it was uneconomical to run.

He added: "Esteem Care Ltd is working closely with North Yorkshire County Council to facilitate the smooth transfer of all of our residents.

"The home will continue to operate as normal until the very last resident leaves."