Final decision to be made on residential care home proposals

- The council has closed at least 5 residential care homes since 2004:
- Maesyffynnon Residential Care Home, Aberdare
- Dan Y Mynydd Residential Care Home, Porth
- Bronllwyn Residential Care Home, Gelli Pentre
- Ystrad Fechan Residential Care Home, Treorchy
- Garth Olwg Residential Care Home, Church Village
- As of August 2024, the Council operates 7 residential care homes, compared to 9 care homes reported in February 2023, indicating a reduction of 2 homes in that period.
- The total number of care homes for older people in Rhondda Cynon Taf decreased from 34 in February 2023 to 30 in August 2024, a reduction of 4 homes.
- The council is currently considering the closure of two more care homes: Ferndale House and Cae Glas.
Cabinet Members will next week consider all feedback received in the recent public consultations into residential care proposals for Ferndale and Hawthorn – and they will make a final decision on the respective proposals.
The proposals have been brought forward to respond to a change in demand for residential care. Expectations by older people are reported to be changing, with more residents wanting to retain their independence in their own home, or live in accommodation providing targeted support for their needs within an apartment-style facility, like extra care. In this context, demand for care home facilities has also changed, towards more specialist nursing or dementia care.
At their meeting on Wednesday, January 22, Cabinet Members will give their final consideration to the respective proposals, which concern Ferndale House Residential Care Home and Cae Glas Residential Care Home in Hawthorn.
A report to Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting summarises the consultation feedback received during engagement exercises for the respective proposals – held from October 1 to November 31, 2024. Led by independent consultants Practice Solutions Ltd, the process engaged directly with residents, their families and care home staff, while the general public could have their say via an online survey and at two public sessions held in Tylorstown and Hawthorn.
Cabinet Members will consider all of the responses when making their final decisions – along with the feedback from the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which is due to consider the proposals on January 21.
https://rctcbc.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s49893/Report.pdf?LLL=0