Owned by the Whalan Lodge Trust since it bought the former Kurow Maternity Hospital on behalf of the community in 1984, it took over operation of the 14 bed rest-home late last year planning to improve its finances so it could be offered to private operators again in April.
However, trust chairman Hugh Cameron said yesterday the home was still struggling to attract residents and a public meeting in Kurow on Monday night would determine its future.
At present, the home had four full-time residents; it had also had three part-time respite care residents, but they had now left.
''At that level, it is hand-to-mouth financially and our reserves have almost gone,'' he said.
To break even, Whalan Lodge needed at least seven residents, or 10 to 11 to start turning a profit.
The community had been excellent with help and donations, including volunteer workers, since December and further donations or offers might come from Monday's meeting.
''We do need money, but we really need more residents,'' he said.
There were a large number of elderly people in the Waitaki Valley who, in the future, could need rest-home care.
Asked how long the lodge could continue without more residents, Mr Cameron said that would depend on the outcome of Monday's meeting.
A notice for Monday's meeting on the Upper Waitaki Community Page said it was to gauge feedback from the community on the future of the lodge.
''More residents are needed to cover its operating expenses, but so far the care facility has been unable to attract more people and is running out of time to do so ... ''
Closure would mean the loss of the only full-time elderly care facility in the Waitaki Valley and the opportunity to keep loved ones close to family and friends, leaving Oamaru as the next nearest facility.
It would mean the loss of invaluable relief day care for family carers of frail, sick and terminally ill relatives, along with the loss of meals on wheels.
Whalan Lodge was also one of the fulltime employers in the area, requiring both skilled and semi-skilled staff, offering ongoing accredited training and with the potential to expand given time and community support.
A recent $100,000 extension and renovations made it a modern, up-to-date facility.
The meeting starts at 7.30pm in the Kurow Memorial Hall.
