Around 1,500 independent care homes are feared to be on the brink of going bust due to the financial blow from coronavirus.
The Independent Care Group, supporting homes in York and North Yorkshire, estimates 10% to 15% of members are on the brink.
And Care England chief executive Professor Martin Green agreed that this was “representative of a national figure”.
He added it is “probably a matter of weeks” before some collapse.
With an average 40 residents per home, an estimated 60,000 face upheaval.
Sites are haemorrhaging cash as they lose residents and cannot take new ones.
Yet they face cost hikes on staffing and PPE. Some highlight face masks rising from 17.5p each on April 1 to 90p on April 27.
Prof Green said: “There are people worried they won’t be able to survive if this goes on much longer.”
ICG chair Mike Padgham, who runs four care homes, has looked into a loan he will need in a few months if the situation does not change.
He said care homes do not qualify for emergency business schemes and local authorities are either not supporting them or lack sufficient funds. And he added that 45% of ICG members fear they are at risk.
Mr Padgham said: “We need help. The Government needs to make sure social care is at the front.”
Care England claims many local authorities, given £3.2billion by Government to help plug care home shortfalls during the pandemic, have not passed funds on or introduced complex stipulations.
