Safety fear over cuts plans for Caerphilly home care

A RISCA man says he fears for his parents’ safety after council proposals to meet cost pressures mean 24-hour care could no longer be provided on the site of their home.

Robert Owen’s parents Gwilym and Flo, both 79, moved into a property at Tredegar Court extra care facility in May this year in order to be able to live independently but still have 24- hour care available if needed.

But now a report by Caerphilly council’s corporate director of social services to the health, social care and wellbeing scrutiny committee proposes three options with regard to changing the way services could be provided at the home in the future.

One is to make no changes, which would see the Home Assistance Reablement Team (HART) continue to provide on-site care 24 hours a day.

The second option is to externalise care, transferring the service to REACH supported living services who currently provide care services to the two other Extra Care schemes within Caerphilly.

The third option is for HART to continue providing the service on an in-reach basis which would mean 24- hour care would not be on site.

The third option is expected to generate a full year saving of £160,810.

The report states that HART currently utilises 378 hours of care per week at Tredegar Court but currently only 163 hours of support have been deemed as being necessary following assessments of need.

But Mr Owen says he is concerned for his parents’ safety, particularly if the third option goes ahead.

His parents moved into the home after his father suffered from a degenerative breathing disorder which left him in hospital for a month at the beginning of the year.

He then struggled to get around in his old house, having to have a bedroom set up downstairs.

Robert Owen said: “Tredegar Court was advertised as a 24-hour care home.

I speak for most residents when I say it is a real peace of mind knowing that if anything should happen there are people on site at all times. They are talking about cuts but my parents’ safety is the ultimate priority.”

Mr Owen said there had also been no consultation with his parents prior to the report being issued.

Council – welfare is our top priority

A COUNCIL spokesman said a number of options were currently being considered for Tredegar Court extra care facility but no decisions have been taken to date.

He said: “The level of care currently provided by the council significantly exceeds the assessed need of those persons who receive care at Tredegar Court.The authority undertakes regular reviews to ensure tenants needs are met.

“As always, the welfare of those people receiving our care is our top priority and we will present a report for consideration by the council’s cabinet in the coming months.”