Residents at a Gold Coast aged care facility that was dramatically closed last week have been told the facility will be referred to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, a move backed by the nursing home's operator HelpStreet.

Key points: A business dispute between the nursing home owner and its operator that sparked an evacuation is being investigated by federal and state authorities

A business dispute between the nursing home owner and its operator that sparked an evacuation is being investigated by federal and state authorities Families who attended a meeting today told the ABC they had been assured the attached retirement village housing was secure

Families who attended a meeting today told the ABC they had been assured the attached retirement village housing was secure The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union says many residents at the meeting were distressed by last week's events

The company that owns the Earle Haven nursing home at Nerang, People Care, held a crisis meeting this morning with families, workers and residents from the attached retirement village.

The media was banned from the meeting.

The ABC understands a representative of People Care told residents that last Thursday's evacuation of nursing home residents, which saw more than 70 elderly and frail people transported to other nursing homes across the Gold Coast and a hospital, will be referred to the royal commission.

Federal and state authorities are investigating the business dispute between the owner and its subcontractor HelpStreet, which sparked the evacuation.

HelpStreet said it welcomed a full investigation into the "unprecedented" and "heartbreaking" closure of Earle Haven.

HelpStreet founder Kris Bunker said in a statement "serious questions need to be asked about People Care and its business practices".

"We have nothing to hide — we back union calls for the Federal Government to scrutinise the aged care industry as part of [the] royal commission," Mr Bunker said.

HelpStreet founder Kris Bunker said the nursing home's subcontractor "has nothing to hide". ( ABC News: Damien Larkins )

Mr Bunker made assurances that residents' electronic medical records, as well as money already direct debited for services, were secure.

"We've been informed today by our banking partner that all of the monies are in the process of being refunded to residents," he said.

"On the removal of assets last Thursday, I can assure you that no HelpStreet staff were told to remove medication or anything else relevant to the delivery of care.

"We arrived to urine-soaked mattresses, bedding and towels with holes in them, and food that was described as slop — we turned that around — but we've been constantly underpaid for that good work by People Care."

Meeting 'was very reassuring', resident says

Families who attended the meeting today told the ABC they were assured the attached retirement village housing was secure.

Annett Bartels said her father was moved from the nursing home on Thursday and her mother lived in the retirement village.

Ms Bartels said the owner of Earle Haven Retirement Village, Arthur Miller, had "assured everybody their units are going to be safe, [but] my father is a little confused".

Residents at the assisted living facility want to know if they can remain in their homes. ( ABC News: Elise Kinsella )

Melva Morrison lives in the retirement village, and her husband George was taken to hospital from the nursing home last Thursday.

She said her 97-year-old husband had already been unwell but was doing fine in hospital.

Ms Morrison was pleased with today's meeting, saying she felt confident about her home in the retirement village.

"We are safe, everything is wonderful, the big meeting today was very reassuring," Ms Morrison said.

'Distress and uncertainty'

However, Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union spokeswoman Bernie O'Connor said many of the residents at the meeting were distressed by the events of the past week.

"The distress and the uncertainty — that is the two words that sum it up best," Ms O'Connor said.

Ms O'Connor said many of the people who lived in the retirement village were upset for their friends who were moved, and unsure what it meant for their own future.

"One gentleman said 'My best mates, I saw them being carted away," Ms O'Connor said.