The Council is committed to investing in extra care and increasing the number of beds in the County Borough to meet need. This includes developing several new modern extra care housing schemes in our local communities. This page includes all you need to know 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
What is the current and future extra care provision?
The Council’s commitment to invest in new extra care facilities started in 2017, and at that point in time there was one existing extra care facility in Rhondda Cynon Taf – Ty Heulog in Talbot Green (40 extra care beds).
Since then, the Council has partnered with Linc Cymru to deliver a programme of modern projects across the County Borough. Two new extra care housing schemes were completed and opened in 2020 and 2021 respectively – Maesyffynnon in Aberaman (40 Extra Care beds) and Cwrt yr Orsaf in Pontypridd (60 Extra Care beds).
Meanwhile, several further projects are in the process of being designed and delivered.
Construction work restarted on a new extra care scheme for Porth in 2024, on the former Dan-y-Mynydd Care Home site, and work is progressing towards its delivery in early 2026.
In addition, planning consent has been granted for a new scheme in Mountain Ash, which will be a modern development providing a mix of extra care housing, residential dementia care, and ‘Later Living’ accommodation. The former Pavilions site off Darran Road was cleared for the development in early 2025, with the main construction phase due to start later in the year.
A future scheme is also planned to be located in Treorchy.
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.