When the French Convalescent Home finally lost its fight to remain open, the team running it was devastated.

It had provided a safe and kind home for many elderly residents over the years and staff knew how distressed the occupants had been when they had to move into uncharted territory at an age when such an upheaval can actually be life-threatening to people of such advanced years.

Of course, the jobs of the management and staff went when the home closed but, instead of crying over spilled milk, they decided to carry on doing the thing they did best, caring for the elderly but this time in their own homes.

And so Renaissance Care was born, operating from offices in Edward Street. Under the eagle eye of Catherine Gennaro, who had been the directrice of the French Convalescent Home, the team put together a list of services they could offer to the old and frail in their own homes at a price they could afford. It is certainly a very comprehensive list, covering a variety of jobs including help with gardening, housework, shopping and catering.

Each case is carefully evaluated by a senior member of staff and the needs for nursing care are set out in a number of different options.

The assessment covers such things as bathing, washing and dressing, going to bed and getting up, mobility, respite care, advocacy, cooking meals and snacks, each service carefully geared to each individual's needs.

There is also the facility for trips and for escorts to accompany clients to hospital. It is also possible to arrange home maintenance, plumbing and similar needs through the organisation.

All the craftsmen used by them are vetted, a very important consideration when hardly a week goes by without a tale of some elderly person somewhere being conned by bogus workmen and charged huge amounts of money for botched and often unnecessary work.

All these services are explained in their brochure and the costs are also stated. All this could certainly provide a much-needed service to a growing section of the population. Indeed, with bed-blocking in the news, such help at home might well make it possible to keep older people cared for in their own homes instead of taking up hospital beds.

But where this organisation scores is its acknowledgement that all cases are different and it is willing to discuss all aspects of the care needs with the client or their representative.

As they say in their brochure: "We are committed to providing a service based on preference, not assumption."

They are also committed to a very comprehensive training programme with their staff working towards a qualification in caring.

All their trainers are qualified and they are committed to researching methods in their field of care for the elderly.

They are currently applying for charitable status but, in the meanwhile, they have to raise their own finances.

They operate on a 24-hour telephone basis and as the business grows, they aim to have personal contacts available.

The office is open at 141 Edward Street, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm, and if you are involved in any way with care for the elderly, they could be well worth a visit.

The French Convalescent Home could not have a better memorial than this phoenix which has arisen, in true Renaissance style, from the ashes.