The Islands’ council has moved to reassure people after deciding it will no longer fund Sage House care home on St Mary’s.
It said all residents at the privately-owned facility would be able to stay in care on Scilly if it was to close.
The full council approved the community services committee’s recommendation to take no further action to prevent the home closing at a meeting last week.
There is one other residential home for the elderly on St Mary’s, the local authority-owned Park House.
A council statement said the Islands are facing a similar dilemma to many other authorities in the country of how to maintain care homes amid falling levels of occupancy.
Director of Adult Social Care, Christine Gravestock, told Members that it would be possible to avoid placing people in care on the mainland by making the best use of Park House and working with Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust.