A local accounting firm has agreed to outline a feasibility study on Bermuda?s rest homes, according to Age Concern director Claudette Fleming.

The study will determine the amount of public help needed to keep homes open in the long-run, specifying financial shortfalls in hopes of averting ?an impending eldercare crisis?.

Ms Fleming did not wish to divulge the name of the accounting firm yet. Once the outline was complete, she said Age Concern would return to the rest home operators to confirm the study should go ahead.

?It will cost Age Concern something,? she said, adding the lobbying group had contacted the donor community to say they would be approached about the study. ?It looks very, very positive.? A recent crisis meeting held between Age Concern and private rest home operators outlined three main concerns:

The rising cost of operating residential care homes, with a particular concern in the financing of qualified staff, the buying of personal care items and food, and costs associated with customs duty;

The inconsistency and insufficiency of payouts by Government through the Department of Financial Assistance to the various categories of care providers; and

The growing inability of seniors and their families to meet the rising costs of ?eldercare?.

Age Concern also held a meeting on Monday with other services related to helping seniors, such as Meals on Wheels and the Red Cross on how the advocate group can clear the way for those groups to provide their services.

At the meeting, it was decided that the number one challenge facing those organisations was finding volunteers. Age Concern has also pledged to increase its membership.