Residents of an Aylmer retirement home and their families are scrambling to find accommodations Thursday after residents were told they have to move out of the facility by Friday.

The last minute move at Brookside Retirement Manor follows a series of events that saw the home operating without a valid licence for the last several weeks,CTV News has learned.

After being refused a licence it seems the owner simply abandoned the place.

The regulatory body that oversees retirement homes had to move in and close the manor.

It’s been a stressful time for elderly residents, some with dementia and mobility issues. They’ve been told to pack up their belongings and leave by Friday.

“I think it’s the cruelest thing anybody could ever do,” says resident Carl Bale. “I’d like to throw something at them.”

Arthur Hayman is about to turn 97, but he’s taking the move in stride.  “I’m in the position I have no other choice,” he says.

According to the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority, there have been ongoing violations at the home having to do with its ability to provide care and its competency to operate.

A representative from the authority says the U.S. owner has abandoned the facility after a final decision to refuse a licence was rendered earlier this month. Multiple licence applications came from the same party, but under different corporate names.

Residents' loved ones say since then some staff have been working without pay to help residents and some family members have also volunteered.

One of them is Sherrin Guyard, whose 86-year-old mother has called Brookside home for four years. “Residents here have become family. It’s very hard to uproot your loved ones when you thought that they were safe,” she says.

But not everyone has a family member who can help them get situated.  In some cases all they have is each other.

The Community Care Access Centre has been at the home and staff are helping residents find a place to stay, at least overnight.

The CCAC says 13 residents remain and many have already left.

“I wish we could have kept this place open,” says Frank. Kikkert, who doesn’t know where he’ll end up. “I’ve got to be close to the hospital for my dialysis.”

Jeanne McLaws is taking care of her elderly aunt's affairs, moving her belongings out as quickly as she can. She says she only found out Thursday morning they have to be gone.

It’s very, very demeaning, disgraceful,” says McLaws.