Public to have say on plans to shut care homes and day centres

PLANS to shut council-run care homes and day centres for the elderly in Leeds as council chiefs grapple with major spending cuts are to be discussed at a series of public events.

A consultation is already under way seeking people’s views on proposals that could see Leeds City Council reducing the number of residential care homes and day care centres for elderly people that it runs as well as considering whether to increase charges for some services.

But the authority says it will continue to meet the needs of the most vulnerable with a broader range of services. This will include looking at whether homes should be redeveloped to offer specialist care for people with dementia and frail or disabled people, intermediate care to help people to regain independence following a hospital stay, or respite care to give families and carers a break.

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It is proposed this will be achieved by closing some of the 19 council-run homes and commissioning more beds in care homes in the independent sector. The consultation is looking at what the impact of changes could be on individual care home residents and their families, and at how this might be reduced.

The authority also says the changes could allow people to stay in their own homes longer, with back-up support such as such as alarms and sensors.

Coun Lucinda Yeadon, executive board member with responsibility for adult health and social care said: “Its our priority to provide the best possible support for our most vulnerable adults and their families.

“However, its simply not an option for us to continue to do things the same way as they always have been done, particularly in light of the ever increasing demand on our services and the major financial challenges we are facing.

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“We have to make changes, but we will do this in full consultation with as many people as we can, and I would urge people to attend the events that have been organised for this purpose. I know that it can be very difficult and upsetting for vulnerable people when their carers or services are changed, so we will manage the changes very carefully.

“We are committed to improving our services and delivering better results for the people that need them in the future.”

The authority says demand at its 16 day centres for older people is also falling as more people choose to access support and services directly from their local communities.

It says current attendance at the centres range between 39 per cent and 62 per cent – which means that keeping them all open is no longer financially viable.

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Proposals will also look at how some centres could be redeveloped to offer daytime support to older people with dementia, and at ways to help other service users find alternative activities in their local communities.

The council has also said they are considering removing subsidies on charges for non- residential adult social care services.

This could mean that fewer people qualify for subsidised services such as meals-on-wheels, transport, and services at day centres.

Council chiefs want to engage with as many people as possible to help them to shape how services will look in the future, and have arranged roadshow events at four venues across the city.

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Members of the public will be able to talk directly to officers about the proposals and give their views on the plans.

The events are open to all and will take place as follows: Today 9am-4pm, Kirkgate Market (stall 91), Leeds; March 4, 9am-4pm, Otley Market (stall 3); March 29, 9am- 4pm, Pudsey Market (stall P) and April 7, 9am-4pm, Wetherby Market.

Last week the council agreed a budget for next year which slashed its spending by £90m and will see 1,500 jobs go.

The council also faces having to make even more cuts in the coming years.