Jewish Care is to close its Kay Court home in Finchley Road for people with personal or dementia care needs.

The closure is part of a 10-year commitment to upgrade or redevelop Jewish Care facilities following the opening this summer of its £44 million care campus in Golders Green.

There are currently 36 residents at the 54-bed Kay Court, which Jewish Care chief executive Simon Morris says "no longer offers an appropriate environment in which to care for their increasing physical and mental frailty". The home comprises two buildings connected by a series of corridors and there are no en suite facilities.

Mr Morris stressed that "a safe move for the residents" was the paramount concern. No decision had been taken on the future of the premises and no further home closures were planned.

In a letter to residents and their families, care and community services director Neil Taylor said the closure decision had been "an extremely hard one to make, as everyone in the organisation recognises the difficulties this will cause for those associated with the home".

Everyone recognises the difficulties this will cause

For the 10-year plan, a number of options are being considered to enhance the levels of care and support to clients.

These include the possible construction of an additional care home on the Asher Loftus Way site in Friern Barnet, where Lady Sarah Cohen House and Rosetrees are located, and a major redevelopment of the Princess Alexandra home in Stanmore.

Mr Morris explained that the demands on the charity had changed, with people tending to enter a care home at a much later stage, often with complex nursing or dementia needs. "It is our aspiration that in time, and with the community's support, we will be able to significantly upgrade or redevelop our remaining homes."