A consultation into the future of two Cumbrian care homes has been extended by two weeks.
Westmorland & Furness Council is reviewing the futures of Applethwaite Green Care Home in Windermere and Grisedale Croft in Alston.
It launched the consultation into options for their futures on May 14. It was due to close on August 5, but has now been extended until August 19.
The authority said it was to give people more clarity over the option to refurbish the homes.
If refurbishment was the preferred option for either or both the homes, they would have to close for an estimated 12 to 24 months, with current residents having to move temporarily or permanently to an alternative home.
The decision to extend the consultation period was made after listening to community views and concerns at information drop-in sessions and assessing the responses received so far to the surveys for both homes.
Survey responses indicated that some people were preferring the refurbishment option because they understood it would allow current residents to remain in the home during the work, and therefore it would be one of the least disruptive options for the residents.
Public consultation materials in print and online stated that refurbishment would mean extensive remodelling and refurbishment and that the option would be highly disruptive to current residents.
However, it did not spell out that the extent of structural work required for a complete remodelling of the home, which would include installing new plumbing and wiring, and updating mechanical and electrical installations, and would mean the home would have to close for an extended period.
The authority added: “We have also clarified that the option to rebuild care homes on their current sites would mean residents having to move temporarily or permanently to an alternative home for two to four years.”
Consultation materials have been updated, the council said, and people who have already responded to the consultation are being contacted with the new information and being invited to resubmit a new consultation response if they wish.
As part of the consultation process and the update of information, the council has also clarified in answer to community questions and concerns about Grisedale Croft, that “Option 5: Provide alternative accommodation in a newly acquired property in the local area” was intended to refer to the town of Alston.
The council has also agreed to hold a public meeting at Alston Town Hall on Thursday July 16.
Earlier this year, councillors were told the 27-bed Applethwaite Green Care Home’s building was functionally obsolete and financially unsustainable.
It said the home had been operating at a reduced capacity of residents due to long-standing recruitment challenges, high agency reliance and an inability to meet modern regulatory standards.
It also has some of the highest costs. At the time of the report to the council’s cabinet, it had 16 permanent residents.
The council’s consultation document for Applethwaite Green states that it could cost from £2.5 million to £3 million to refurbish the care home to modern standards with en-suite rooms.
Running costs of more than £2,000 per week per resident are also double the cost to the council of a care home place at an independent provider or of a council-run home which is fully occupied.
Grisedale Croft has 13 bedrooms and currently has four permanent residents.
The building is more than 50 years old and has exceeded its original operational life.
In Alston and the surrounding area there is limited alternative provision, so cabinet agreed to consult on all options, but with a preferred option to provide alternative accommodation in a suitable building in the local area, if one can be acquired.
The council said it could could cost from £2.5 million to £3 million to refurbish or rebuild Grisedale Croft to modern standards with en suite rooms.
Running costs of more than £4,000 per week per resident are also four times the cost to the council of a care home place at an independent provider or of a council-run home which has full occupancy.
The council said that the cost of remodelling or rebuilding either home could be even higher than £2.5m to £3m due to geopolitical uncertainty, rising building costs, and complexities of the care home sites.
Nikkie Phipps, assistant director of care services, said: “The understanding of what the refurbishment option would mean for current residents of the two care homes is highly significant for residents and their families and important for the wider community to understand.
“It would not be safe or practical for residents to remain: in simple terms, the building would be stripped back and be a building site for an extended period.
“So that’s why we have updated our consultation information and extended the consultation period to allow time for the changes to be communicated and for anyone who wishes to review and resubmit their consultation response.”
