Consultation on proposals to replace six residential care homes in Cumbria

Cumbria County Council are consulting widely on proposals to replace six council-run residential care homes in North Cumbria.  The consultation runs from 28 January 2008 until 28 April 2008.

The homes, in Wigton, Keswick, Millom, Alston, Penrith and Brampton would be replaced with six new state-of-the-art homes on the sites of new and existing community hospitals.  They need to be replaced because they are not able to meet the needs of older people given small room sizes, a lack of en suite bathroom facilities and the growing dependency of older people entering residential care.

It is proposed that Cumbria Care staff would move with residents to the new homes which would offer residential and nursing care in the same place. Currently, residents in Cumbrian council-run homes may have to move out if their care needs rise above a certain level.

After listening to local people's views from the consultation, detailed plans will be developed for consideration by county councillors later in the year.