A care home resident in her 90s is living in fear of eviction after receiving letters demanding payment of outstanding fees.

Marion Butler told the Isle of Man Examiner her mother had received letters, sent to her personally at the home, demanding payment of around £20,000 owing in fees.

She said her mother, who is 93, was so upset by the issue she did not want to name the home or her mother for fear of her being caused additional distress.

’She moved into the home when she was 89 and the fees have absorbed all of her money. She simply has no cash left. Her entire pension is taken towards fees so she literally has nothing,’ said Mrs Butler, who lives at Willaston.

However, Mrs Butler said her mother owns a share in a cottage, currently up for sale, and the arrears will be paid as soon as a sale can be completed. She explained certain difficulties concerning a flying freehold had held up a sale and she has asked for any correspondence to go to her directly, to avoid distressing her mother, who has full understanding of the situation but is too frail to address it herself. Despite this, more than one letter has gone to her mother, telling her if the outstanding balance is not paid she will be issued with a court summons.

’I’m incensed that they would sent a letter like that to an old person,’ she said.

’The situation has been explained and we just need time to resolve it. What if this was an old person who had no relatives to deal with the situation for them?’

A government spokesman said the matter was currently being looked into but no further comment was possible at this stage, until investigations were complete.

Douglas North MHK David Ashford, whose contituency covers Willaston, said he felt the whole system needed to be reviewed.

’There needs to be a degree of realism in the system. People who have assets need time to be able to realise them and you can’t just sell a property overnight,’ he said.

’This needs a review, particularly where you are dealing with elderly people who end up believing they are about to be kicked out on the street. It’s very traumatic for them.’