Flats Plan For Elderly Care Home

The last council-run care home in Bolton could close early next year – and be replaced by flats for the elderly. Adult Services chiefs are putting the finishing touches to a bid for a slice of £40 million allocated by the Government to finance extra care housing schemes. If the Bolton bid is successful, it would see Manor Court residential care home, in Harwood, Bolton, demolished to make way for 37 sheltered flats. Each would provide residents with two-bedroomed accommodation, with the benefit of having their care needs met in their homes.

Manor Court, which has beds for 27 people, only has six elderly residents at the moment. Consultations have been carried out with the residents, their families and staff over the possible closure.

While work is carried out redeveloping the site, the residents and staff would be moved temporarily to other accommodation and given the option of returning once the flats are built.

“Change is always difficult but we have to look at future needs,” said a council spokeswoman.

Bolton has 180 extra care flats run by Anchor and Bolton at Home. A report two years ago recommended that a further 150 flats were needed in the borough, a move away from putting elderly people needing high levels of care in traditional residential homes. Fifty have been provided by redesignating 25 sheltered housing flats at Jubilee Court and a further 25 at St George’s Court.

Bolton Council says the possibility of redeveloping Manor Court will further help them towards the target. They will find out in December if their bid, in conjunction with the New Leaf social housing provider, is successful.

Work could start on the project in April, with existing residents moved out before the end of March.

The council spokeswoman described it as an exciting project which would give more elderly people in the borough greater independence. “This will give people privacy, dignity and freedom, but with whatever care they need,” she said.