Questions and answers
Will there be enough beds when the elderly population is on the increase?
The needs of older people are changing and models of care that support people to live at home longer means we do not need as many beds in residential care. We will include commissioning plans in the detailed response to consultation in the Cabinet Report.
The bed numbers will drop to 60, a lot less than we currently have. Will this mean that people who require residential care won’t get it?
Cumbria Care is one provide of residential Care. Social workers can also use available private residential and nursing beds, if these services are deemed appropriate to meet need. However residential care is not the only form of accommodation with support and, dependent on an individual's needs, there are other options such as support to stay living at home, making use of domiciliary care, assistive technology and reablement services. There is also Extra Care Housing which provides people with dedicated care and support teams on site 24/7.
60 beds for a new home sounds too big?
Although the total number of beds in the new homes is 60, the homes can be designed to feel like a group of smaller 'houses. Park View Gardens in Barrow is a new build home and has 5 x 12 houses. This allows grouping of staff for continuity and familiarity and for grouping of needs so that people with similar levels of care requirement can be supported together. We will discuss our staff structure and shift patterns with our staff to ensure we have safe and adequate levels of staff in the new homes.
60 beds – where did that number come from?
The number or residential care beds that Cumbria Care provides is dependent on a number of factors but considered within an areas commissioning plan. This is an analysis of information about a population and its change over time as well as an understanding of the whole health and social care market in that area. There is also an optimum number of beds for design and build purposes and this is thought nationally from analysis and past build experience to be around 60 beds.
Why can’t the council build two 40 bedded homes instead of one 60 bedded? Although significant, the capital investment is limited and the economics of building and then running and staffing a 60 bed home is a more suitable option.
Where will people go if admissions are stopped?
Admissions to existing Council run homes will always be considered on an individual need basis and on the homes ability to provide safe and effective levels of care within its' staffing. Residential care is also provided by the independent sector and choices such as care at home, or extra care housing are also considerations.
Are all the private homes full at the moment?
It is very rare that all homes in an area are full at any given time, there is ordinarily some surplus of beds. However occupancy of care homes is fluid and changing constantly. We will be providing some insight to the use and occupancy of private homes through commissioning plan information for each affected area.
What resources are being put into home care / reablement if people are to be kept at home longer?
The council is investing in both home care, provided by the independent sector and our in house reablement service. The aim of this is to help people recover from ill health and a loss of functioning and wherever possible, regain and maximise their independence and allows many people to stay living in their own home. Assistive technology is also advancing and becoming more wide ranging and this helps support the principles of care and support in the community.
What will be the ratio of EMI to physically frail beds?
Residents needs will be met via the flexibility of staffing hours to accommodate both physically frail and dementia residents ensure needs can be met whilst offering flexibility within the home.
Is this new build not a waste of money when residents are content where they are?
The new build homes are an investment in the future of council run care homes. The homes will be used for many years in the future and provide a more suitable environment to live and have complex care and support provided. The council has to ensure it is able to meet care and support needs now and in the future, the new build programme has in mind the current group of residential care users and future residents.
Is this a cost cutting measure?
No. This is principally about offering a better built environment for residential care and ensuring Council run care homes form part of a wider choice and range of models of care and support to help older adults live as independently as possible. We are investing significant capital in the new buildings and we will invest in our staff to run the new homes.
Why spend all this money when the homes we have at the moment are half empty?
We are currently recruiting new staff to the service, which will allow additional beds to be made available in existing homes. It is vital to recruit a strong caliber of staff with the skills and experience necessary to provide the level of care people deserve, and therefore bed occupancy will always reflect staffing levels. Residential Care has a place within a wider mix of other services, such as extra care housing, which provides greater choice for elderly people.
Will the residents need to pay more / increased charges?
There will be no change to the cost of care. The council’s charging policy includes financial assessment processes and an individual’s contribution to care is based on their ability to pay. Unless you are deemed to be a self-funder; in which case the full cost of care is your responsibility; you will be charged a proportion of you monthly income to contribute toward the cost of care.
Why disrupt the residents when they are well looked after and happy where they are?
Residents receive quality care from staff. The proposed new build will enhance that quality and offer people an improved quality of life.
The staff are excellent, will they move with the residents?
Yes staff will move with residents.
Moving residents can affect their health – how will we deal with this?
Support will be given before, during and after the planned move to a new build. Continuity of care will be sustained from existing staff groups. Attention will be paid to ensure that service user’s wellbeing is the main priority.
Is it likely that residents could be moved twice?
The preferred option would be that one move was sufficient. However if operational demands are such it may require and interim move for some but by no means all.
Will the residents live with the friends that they have now?
As far as possible residents will remain with the group of which they are familiar.
Will the existing homes be kept open until the new home is completed or will the residents be moved in the interim to save money?
Operational demands may require an interim move for some residents but by no means all.
Will all care needs be catered for?
Yes all care needs will be catered for under the CQC registration.
Where will the new home be?
The site for the Carlisle new build is now secured as the site of the former Morton Park Junior School, this land is in Council ownership. In Copeland we have secured the purchase of part of the former Sekers site in Whitehaven. Both sites are now confirmed and initial design work is underway to tailor the physical environment. The appointed architect, Wilson Maison, are working with the Council to undertake initial design workshops where interested parties can influence the design principles. The homes will be designed to be as homely as possible; provide a suitably high standard of good practice in Dementia care.
When will the site be confirmed?
The sites are now confirmed - see above answer
Why not refurbish the existing homes?
We are building two new homes alongside a programme of refurbishments to other Council homes across the County. The first of these, Elmhurst and Richmond Park are due to be completed on November and February respectively.
Will those residents with dementia be segregated from the rest of the residents?
It is more than likely that there will be a mix of needs in any given space, however by designing the physical environment with good practice in mind, means we will be able to cater for people with the most complex needs within the same space. Compatability of individuals is always a consideration when planning care and support.
Will those residents without dementia be able to go into the new home or will they have to find somewhere else to live?
The new homes will be built to incorporate good practice in Dementia care and so we expect residents with dementia will make the move.
Will there be help to move?
We will fully support all residents and families to make the move in a properly planned way. We will use principles of good practice for moving people between care homes which are published in guidance nationally.
What will the new home(s) be called?
No names have been confirmed at this stage
Will all bathrooms have showers?
Yes, all rooms will have bathing facilities similar to those at Park View Gardens where all rooms are ensuite with wet room style shower facilities. The individual 'houses' also have a number of bathrooms with bathing facilities.
Will the new home be ‘homely’?
The new homes will be designed and built to ensure that the living environments as a homely as possible.
Will there be double-rooms in the new builds for couples?
Rooms will be large enough to accommodate couples however all residents will be allocated their individual rooms.
Will there be respite beds in the new homes?
The need for respite will be considered as part of the overall modernisation programme.
Why not build on the site of an existing care home?
This has been explored within the initial feasibility and existing sites have also been considered and appraised for alternative use.
Is the target of 2018 for completion realistic?
We are confident that the timescales for building the two new homes are realistic and can be built to the right standard within that timeframe.
If the proposed sites go ahead – have you considered public transport links?
Transport links have been taken into account. It is important that the new homes are part of the local community and as such transport is an important consideration, although transport planning is outside the scope of this programme.
Will there be sufficient car-parking for both staff and visitors at the new sites?
This will be considered within the design phase, the use of surrounding outdoor space will include parking for staff and visitors and outdoor garden and recreational space for the home.
Will the residents be involved in the consultation process and how?
We have written to and spoken to all residents and their families to inform them of the consultation. We have held a face to face meeting in each of the affected homes at the start of consultation to explain the proposals in detail and offer the opportunity to discuss with Council staff. We have put in place a contract for independent advocacy to support resident involvement in the consultation and we will hold further resident and family meetings in the affected homes throughout the consultation period.
Has the consultation exercise ever reversed a proposal?
The purpose of the consultation is to shape the proposals and recommendations that are given to Cabinet in order for them to make a decision. It is an integral and fundamental part of shaping proposals.
What questions will be asked by the Advocates?
Advocates will support individual residents to take part in the consultation the aim is to support them to put across their views, opinions and concerns and their responses to the individual questions in the consultation document. This will involve questions about how they feel, what they think of the proposals and if they have alternative suggestions.
After the closure of the consultation and the collated information goes into the Cabinet report, will we receive a copy?
We will write to all residents and families making them aware that the Cabinet report is available on the Cabinet agenda for 2nd February and we will make copies of the report available.