£7 Million Awelon Care Development Moves A Step Closer

Councillors at Denbighshire’s Performance Scrutiny Committee have agreed to recommend to Cabinet that a total redevelopment of the Awelon care site in Ruthin takes place to provide increased care facilities for local older people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If approved by Cabinet on 24th January, the development will see the 23 residential care single bedrooms replaced with up to 35 one and two bedroom Extra Care Apartments in which the same level of care (including the provision of ‘respite’ care) as the residential home can be provided, but with much more modern and comfortable facilities and the added bonus that couples can stay living together, even if only one of them has a need for care. The proposal will also see Canolfan Awelon, the community centre on the site, replaced by an integrated facility that can be used by the wider community as well as those living in the Extra Care Apartments, enabling residents to continue being part of community life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Social Care, said: “This is an exciting development for Ruthin that will see an increase in the facilities available to provide 24 hour care for older people while supporting their independence. Those people who have seen the facilities in Llys Awelon, the current small Extra Care Scheme on the Awelon site, will know how good they are and how people who live there value the opportunity for independence they have gained. The additional apartments will enable an enhanced service to be provided with additional overnight care on site to ensure that people with 24 hour care and support needs can remain living in their own apartment for as long as they wish. Research shows that this type of care and support is what people want as they think about their future needs and it also shows that outcomes for older people are much improved, with less falls or admissions to hospital, for example.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Scrutiny Committee was provided with an in-depth report compiled by Grwp Cynefin, the Housing Association that operates the Llys Awelon Extra Care Scheme on the site. The report explored a number of options, including using some of the existing Awelon building for a small residential care home. However, Members agreed that the total replacement of the existing facility was the best option to ensure modern sustainable services that will meet the aspirations of local citizens for years to come. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​