RESIDENTS and staff at Ipswich residential aged care facility St Michael's could be without a home and without a job as soon as February.

Staff and residents were told of the decision to close the aged care nursing home on Wednesday, outraging several employees and residents who have been left with many questions unanswered.

St Michael's is home to 61 aged care residents who will now be given the option to relocate to a new facility at Carina or another home at Corinda.

Two nurses employed by St Michael's, who did not want to be named, said their concern was for residents.

"Some of the residents have no family and we are their family, it makes it hard for us and them. These residents are as close to us as our own family," they said.

"As carers of these elderly people if we don't speak out for them then we are lacking in our duty of care.

"Half of the residents have just settled here and no doubt will be traumatised by relocation."

The nurses said they wanted assurance residents would be looked after properly.

"A lot of residents are quite upset about the news. The reality is we are all very shocked about it because no one knew this was coming," they said.

"I think most of the residents want to relocate to another home in Ipswich and it angers me that 61 beds are being taken out of the West Moreton district and relocated into Brisbane.

"We love St Michael's, the place, the people and the residents. We are a tight little community."

PresCare chief executive officer Ray Tuttle said the closing date of the home was dependent on the completion date of the new facility at Carina, scheduled to open between February and May.

"The decision to close has not been taken lightly and is based on numerous factors including the community's desire for modern single ensuite rooms, a lack of aged care capital funding and tight operational funding," Mr Tuttle said.

He said part of the facility at St Michael's was heritage listed and known as the Hancock House, creating its own set of issues while zoning and land size was insufficient to rebuild to new standards required of aged care.

Mr Tuttle said staff would be offered positions at other residential aged care sites or redundancy packages would be given where applicable.

Source: Ipswich Queensland Times - Melanie Maeseele