Council care homes dementia plan

Specialist dementia centres could open in Northamptonshire under plans to convert or close down the county council's 10 residential care homes.

A report following a review of the facilities is due to be discussed by Northamptonshire County Council's cabinet on Tuesday.

It recommends that four of the homes which are no longer fit for purpose are closed over the next three years.

If agreed in principle, further assessments will be carried out.

Extra care housing could be built at Abington Vale and Kingsthorpe in Northampton, the sites of two former schools.

The Grange home in Daventry would be used to develop extra housing and, once this is completed, Evelyn Wright House in the town would close.

Residents consulted

The council said care facilities which can be redeveloped will be improved to provide "high-quality dementia care".

Ridgeway House in Towcester; Boniface House in Brixworth and Ecton Brook House, Obelisk House and Southfields House, all in Northampton, would become specialist dementia centres.

The council is also looking at the closure of Hemmingwell Lodge in Wellingborough and Lakeview House and Cotswold House, both in Northampton, within three years.

Robin Brown, cabinet member for health and adult social services, said he had spoken to staff, residents and families at each of the homes to understand the "issues and challenges".

"Our plans cover a broad range of proposals for the care homes, including redeveloping those buildings which can be improved to provide dementia care and closing those which are no longer fit for purpose and can't be adapted," he added.

"Part of our plans also include proposals to use two former school sites in Northampton to develop extra care housing, as well as exploring the benefits of creating a new local authority trading company to manage some of the care homes in a new way."