A BEWILDERED couple are wondering just what it takes to get their elderly relative a care home place funded by the social services.

Elnora Spence is a frail 86-year-old who has a list of health problems and is frightened to live on her own.

But her relatives say Darlington social services told them she was not needy enough to qualify for a care home place.

Recently discharged from hospital after a fall, she cannot feed or bathe herself and lives in fear of burglars after a break-in at her bungalow, in the Lascelles area of Darlington.

When her daughter and son-in-law, Keith and Diane Hilton, asked social services about a possible care home place, they said they were amazed to be told that she did not qualify for funding.

"She is recovering after cancer surgery and a serious fall, she has diabetes, glaucoma, heart trouble and walks with a stick. How needy does she have to be to get a place in a home?" said Mrs Hilton, 53.

The couple, who live in Norwich Grove, Haughton, Darlington, were so confident that their war widow mother would be able to go into a social services-funded home that they lined up accommodation at a newly-opened private care home.

"They are actually keeping a room for her. It is now down to social services," said Mrs Hilton. "My mother wants to go into a home. She is frightened she will fall and there will be nobody there for her."

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: "We can't comment on specific cases but in general we always like to do a thorough assessment of cases like this. We then try to tailor a care package to support those needs."

Like all local authorities responsible for social services, Darlington council operates a rationing mechanism to match needs to resources, the spokesman said.