Care Home Planned For Former Carnoustie School

Carnoustie’s former Kinloch Primary School will be the centrepiece of a “radical new approach” to provision of services for older people.

Angus Council announced that the site will be a new care home for the elderly but officials stressed that the plans still allow room for the creation of a community heritage centre.

The county’s demographics are changing, Monday’s meeting was told.

And Social Work and Health convener Alison Andrews said that figures suggest a 120 per cent increase of people in Angus aged over 85 within the next 20 years.

That would see the figure standing at 5,600, a rise of 3,000 over today’s figures.

Such an increase will put a strain on current resources and, following the largest review of services ever carried out by Angus Council, a number of new proposals have been put forward.

Council leader Bob Myles hailed it an “exciting time” and called the new proposals “a radical solution.”

He added: “There is a need for change. Demographics have changed with people living longer and staying fitter.”

A huge expansion in supported housing is the main recommendation from the findings.

Currently, Angus Council offers supported housing in Brechin, Montrose and Forfar for 50 tenancies. Over the next 20 years it is hoped that this will grow to 318 across the county.

The supported housing model offers older people a higher degree of independence compared to the traditional care home model.

Tenants still have their own space, a front door, kitchen etc., but wardens and care staff are stationed close by, with modern technology such as care alarms, sensors and voice/video systems utilised to ensure safety.

Investment will continue to be made in ‘telecare’ modern systems such as community alarms that allow people to lead independent lives, in their own homes when possible.

Director of Social Work and Health Robert Peat discussed the ‘enablement’ model which he said “maximises people’s long term independence while minimising the outgoing support needed. This consequently minimises the whole-life cost of care.”

He continued: “Our first priority is in Carnoustie. At the moment Angus Council runs Camus House, a residential unit. Our plan would be to close Camus House once a new care centre is in place.

“We are looking at options (for a site] but we hope it will be on the former Kinloch Primary School alongside the proposed heritage centre.”