Concerns Over Care Home Closure Date

One of Wrexham’s remaining two residential care homes is set to close in March, 2007. Residents and staff at Llys Madoc, Plas Madoc, have been told they are to be moved out, although they will remain in local authority care and employment, but the closure is dependent on all residents being found new accommodation in time.

It is hoped a £5m Welsh Assembly grant will allow Wrexham Council to build a new “extra care” independent living facility for the elderly on the site.

Plas Madoc councillor Paul Blackwell attended the meeting at the home, where council leader Aled Roberts confirmed it was working towards the closure date.

He said: “They are deciding to close the home in March regardless of whether they get that grant or not, which I am very unhappy about.”

Cllr Blackwell said he disagreed with the long-term strategy of ending all council provision of residential care, and was particularly concerned the closure date had been set before the decision on the Assembly grant, which is expected in January.

He said: “If the new facility does not happen, we will be left with a building on our hands which will just be standing empty.”

Cllr Blackwell said he was concerned that if the building were left empty, it could become a magnet for drug addicts.

He said: “All kinds of people could move in. And then there are the elderly people. They will know over Christmas that they are going to be moved soon.”

Also at the meeting was Ruabon councillor Nick Colbourne, who said: “It seems to be only the staff and families who realise if a resident has lived all their life in Acrefair, Rhosymedre or Ruabon and have family in the area, they do not want to go to live somewhere else. Some of these residents have already had this disruption before.”

Cllr Blackwell paid tribute to the staff at the home, who had done a tremendous job.

He said: “They are going to be kept on as council employees, but some of them have had to go through this process before, and those I have spoken to are not looking forward to it.”

Deputy council leader Bob Dutton said: “It is government policy to keep people in their homes as long as possible, and we are trying to do that.

“We have to do the best we can with the resources we have. I would like to have council residential homes, but we just do not have the resources to do that.”