A consultation process is under way to ensure that all homes for older people conform to the latest Government standards by 2007.

Councillors and social and health care managers at Oxfordshire County Council will work with partner organisations including West Oxfordshire District Council, the Oxfordshire Care Partnership, and residents to determine the future of three homes for older people in west Oxfordshire.

No replacement plans have been made for the homes in Chipping Norton, Milton under Wychwood or Woodstock.

The executive board launched the consultation scheme and pledged that a full appraisal of options for the three homes would take place over the next two years.

Don Seale, executive member for the elderly, said: "The overall programme is excellent news because it means better facilities and more beds for the elderly.

Janet Godden, executive member for children and family services, said she was initially opposed to other organisations running the county's care homes until two years ago, when she visited such a home.

She said: "Residents have ensuite rooms and that makes such a difference.

"They also have their own televisions and their own photographs on the wall, so it was almost like living at home.

"We had to make a decision to take our homes to where the money was."

Nicholas Welch, assistant director of social and health care, added that there was no financial alternative to reducing the 19 homes providing 800 care places for Oxfordshire's elderly. "We are very fortunate to have such good partners as the Bedford Pilgrims and the Order of St John, who make up the Oxfordshire Care Partnership, to work with us on this project."