Plans For New Cumbrian Care Homes Unveiled

Plans have been unveiled to build six state-of-the-art residential homes. The proposals are part of a 10-year plan by the county council and primary care trust to modernise care for the elderly in north and west Cumbria.

The new homes, each with around 60 beds, would go on the six cottage hospital sites and offer physiotherapy, respite support, extra-care housing.

A recent investigation of care homes found rooms were too small and that often seven people shared a bathroom.

The proposals will be considered by the county council next week and will then be the subject of a consultation.

Age Concern has helped the council and health chiefs to come up with a plan for the future of care for the elderly.

‘Dignity’

A statement from the county council said: “Staff at the council’s residential homes have been independently assessed as being well-trained and providing excellent care.

“But the working groups believe that with better care homes, older people’s dignity and independence could be vastly improved.

“This is because residents and their belongings are currently squeezed into tiny bedrooms and often forced to share a bathroom with up to seven other people.”

The new homes would be built over the next five years at Wigton, Keswick, Millom, Alston, Penrith and Brampton.

Councillor Oliver Pearson, cabinet member responsible for adult social care and health for the county council, said: “The plans herald a quantum leap in the quality of council-run residential care facilities in Cumbria.”

The county council also hopes to eventually provide similar, large modern residential care homes in Kendal, Windermere and Barrow.