Bosses at a private healthcare firm are expected to meet with the council and care inspectorate as the future of a north-east care home is in jeopardy.
Four Seasons has yet to make a final decision on the future of 54-bed Turriff Care Home.
But it is understood representatives of the company will meet with officials from the local authority today.
Four Seasons management are also considering alternatives to closure.
Last week community leaders warned that any move to shut down Turriff Care Home – the last independent care home in the area – could “devastate” the local community.
Earlier this year Renaissance Care closed its Glenesk premises, forcing more than 20 residents to find new accommodation.
Last week a spokeswoman for Four Seasons said: “We are considering options for Turriff Care Home and as part of this we will consult with Aberdeenshire Council and the Care Inspectorate.”
No further comment will be made until a final decision on the future of Turriff Care Home has been reached.
Doubts about future of Turriff Care Home emerged against a backdrop of financial uncertainty for the firm and a series of critical inspection reports. In January this year inspectors branded the purpose-built facility at Woodlands Crescent weak across the board following an unannounced visit.
Concerns were raised about infection control and staff supervision. Inspectors returned to the premises in March and graded the home unsatisfactory in three out of four categories, the worst grade possible.
The senior inspector concluded: “The service did not have a full-time manager and the temporary management arrangement was not working well. The staff were not working well together and the quality of residents’ care had got worse since the last inspection.”
Both the council and Care Inspectorate have said they were liaising with Four Seasons about the future of the home and residents.
Councillor Anne Robertson, a member of the local authority’s social work and housing committee, said: “To lose another 54 care beds from this area will be quite devastating, if that is the outcome.
“There was a lot of local disquiet around the closure of Glenesk and the loss of that provision. The fact they’ve even begun discussion of closure is of grave concern.”