Following a commitment from Cabinet in September 2017, a proposed £50m investment in Extra Care is being made in Rhondda Cynon Taf. This will see five new facilities open across the County Borough. Here is some useful information about Extra Care in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
What is Extra Care?
Extra Care delivers modern purpose accommodation and 24-hour care and support to meet the needs and changing expectations of the growing older population, allowing them to live as independently as possible in their own homes.
Extra Care housing can provide an alternative to residential care, nursing care and sheltered housing. It aims to provide ‘a home for life’ for many people even if their care needs change over time. Extra Care housing is different from the more traditional forms of residential care and sheltered housing because:
- People are living in their own home
- It is about quality of life not just quality of care
- People have their own self-contained home within their own front door
- Couples and friends can stay together
- There is a mix of people with differing levels of need
- Care services are located on site – providing flexible care and support tailored to the individual’s needs
- People receive support to maintain their independence
- There are organised activities people can join in with if they wish
- There is housing security – the aim is a home for life
An example of the facilities provided by the Cwrt yr Orsaf extra care development, which opened in Graig, Pontypridd, during late 2021
Facilities on offer in Extra Care.
Apartments usually consist of either one or two bedrooms. All apartments have accessible bedrooms, lounge area, separate kitchen area and fully-fitted wet room.
Extra Care housing is also likely to include:
- lifts and hand rails throughout the communal spaces
- community alarm service and assistive technology
- respite facility
- lounges, restaurants and cafe
- activity room, computer area and/or cinema room
- hairdresser or wellbeing room
- launderette
- mobility scooter store
- assisted bathroom
- guest facilities
- landscaped gardens
- parking
Some of the residential facilities that are included in the Cwrt yr Orsaf extra care development
Extra Care facilities also give the opportunity to provide dedicated day services for older people, as well as a community resource providing community opportunities.
Staff are on duty 24 hours a day. It is ideal for people who have long-term deteriorating health conditions, people who need care at night or whose needs can change quickly. The care is flexible and can fit around your personal needs
How many Extra Care places are there in Rhondda Cynon Taf?
Before the Council’s commitment to invest £50m in new extra care facilities in 2017, there was one existing Extra Care facility in Rhondda Cynon Taf – Ty Heulog in Talbot Green (40 extra care beds).
The new investment will deliver a total number of Extra Care places in Rhondda Cynon Taf by 300, through five brand new facilities.
Two of the new facilities opened in 2020 and 2021 respectively – Maesyffynnon in Aberaman (40 Extra Care beds) and Cwrt yr Orsaf in Pontypridd (60 Extra Care beds). Planning permission has also been granted for a third facility on the site of the former Dan-y-Mynydd Care Home site in Porth, to deliver an additional 60 extra care beds.
In November 2022, proposals were discussed by Cabinet Members to modernise residential care options for older people in Rhondda Cynon Taf. They include providing three new facilities offering extra care and residential dementia care, and a fourth new accommodation for adults with learning disabilities. Find out more here.
New state-of-the-art extra care facilities opened in Graig, Pontypridd in 2021 (left) and in Aberaman (right)
Is Extra Care suitable for me?
Extra Care can meet a wide range of care and support needs, but you will only be given the option of extra care following an assessment to assess if you qualify for help and need the level of supported provided in extra care.
To be eligible for Extra Care Housing you:
- should be 50 or older
- must have a social care need, physical or learning disability or mental health illness
Cost
You will need to pay for:
- the cost of renting an apartment
- a service charge for the upkeep of the building and facilities
- a hot mid-day meal
- general household costs such as utility bills, telephone and council tax.
- care and support costs
Example of the bathroom facilities offered at the Maesyffynnon extra care scheme
You may be able to get help “towards the cost of rent and service charge and council tax”.
Care and support costs will vary depending on your needs. How much you pay for your care depends on your needs and your financial circumstances. We will do a “non-residential care financial assessment” to work out exactly how much you can afford to pay.
Further information and resources:
The proposed extra care plans are based on the Housing Lin principles for developing the proposed Extra Care facilities. Full details on the principles and processes are provided by Housing Lin.