Elderly care concern for families

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Work has started on a new housing development that is at the centre of a controversial reorganisation in care for the elderly.

Blaenau Gwent council has closed one care home and is shutting three others.

The council said the new "extra care" housing being built at Ebbw Vale, and two other proposed developments, would offer older people more independence.

But families said they had "grave concerns" for the welfare of residents who must move from their care homes.

The council said there was an "over-provision" of traditional residential care accommodation in Blaenau Gwent and alternative services would better serve the needs of older people.

Other councils are facing similar changes in demand for care, and protests were held at the proposed closure of a care home near Bridgend earlier this month. The residents of Plas-y-Coed are being sacrificed to provide a new facility Diane Markey

Hafod Dawel care home in Nantyglo near Ebbw Vale closed in 2007 and Plas-y-Coed in Ebbw Vale is the next of three earmarked for closure, although an exact date is yet to be set.

Cwrt Mytton in Abertillery will remain and provide residential services for elderly people who need more specialist care.

Blaenau Gwent council said two "extra care" schemes had been approved, including one at College Road in Ebbw Vale. Another is being considered by the Welsh Assembly Government.

'Extra care' housing is similar to sheltered housing but offers residents more support, while still allowing older people to remain independent.

The development at Ebbw Vale is due to open in summer 2010, providing around 40 flats run in a partnership between the council and "registered social landlords".Protests took place against the planned closure of a care home near Bridgend

But Gaynor Bevan, whose 87-year-old mother, Martha Hunt, has lived at Plas-y-Coed for almost three years, said she believed the new housing would be unsuitable for her mother's needs.

"I never thought she would ever settle but my mother has settled and has been happy there. She loves the staff and everything," she said.

"They get 24-hour care there but I don't know what would happen at this new one. It's worrying, very worrying."

Diane Markey, whose 95-year-old mother is at Plas-y-Coed, said relatives were concerned for the welfare of vulnerable residents.

"This is disadvantaging those people who already need this type of care and also those who will be unable to live independently in the future," she said.

"The residents of Plas-y-Coed are being sacrificed to provide a new facility, which is unsuitable for their needs."

Specialised service

Blaenau Gwent Council said in a statement that a strategy was agreed in 2006 after it was shown there was a declining interest for standard residential care.

"The extra care facility will not be appropriate for all the residents from Plas-y-Coed because a high proportion of residents are believed to need a more specialised service because of their limited mental capacity," said the council.

"It is for this reason that the council is establishing a specialised service at Cwrt Mytton."

Cwrt Mytton would continue to be managed by the council but traditional residential services will be provided in partnership with the independent sector.

Iwan Rhys Roberts, of Help the Aged in Wales, said the most important issue was that funding was made available to ensure "people are getting the level of care they need according to their circumstances".