Hundreds of nursing homes are threatened with closure by the government’s new funding plans, according to research by the Berenschot consulting group.

The government is planning to stop funding nursing home care for people who are capable of living at home with some help, including people with dementia.

Although patients currently living in care homes will not be affected, new admissions will be limited to people with severe problems. This means by 2020, some 800 homes will have closed down, Berenschot says.

Experts have told television current affairs show Nieuwsuur people are not aware of the effect the changes are likely to have. In particular, they say  changes in funding will lead to bankruptcies among care homes and housing corporations.