Improvements to specialist care services in south Gwynedd

A total of £380,000 is being invested in Gwynedd Council residential home in Meirionnydd to create extra support for people living with dementia and other conditions associated with getting older. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This cash injection for Llys Cadfan in Tywyn – which is being made in two phases – will mean people get the services that they need closer to home, will help ease the pressure on the health service and prop up the person’s own personal support network. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Gareth Roberts, Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet member responsible for adults’ social services, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We believe that this investment in Tywyn will be good news for the wider community, as the new facility will reduce waiting lists for hospital beds, ease the pressure on local health services. Put simply, it will mean that older people will have Access to the Services they need much closer to home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Council’s enablement service will also provide a stepping stone for people who are well enough to return home after illness or injury.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The facilities at this Gwynedd Council-run home are being extended so that more people than ever can have access to dementia care as well as Enablement and Respite Services without having to leave south Gwynedd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Work has already been carried out which includes renovating five rooms for long term residents and one room for respite care. The next phase of the scheme will see £380,000 invested at Llys Cadfan so that more people who have complex conditions can benefit from the Council’s respite and enablement services, and can be supported to live well. There is also the potential for facilities for more intensive dementia care for the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Helen Jones, manager at Gwynedd Council’s Llys Cadfan home, said: “This is certainly good news for south Meirionnydd. The short stay provision for those living with dementia will help support people to continue to live within their own communities and can help avoid the unnecessary heartache that comes from having to move to another area to receive the care that they need and can also help give families and carers a break. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our priority is to be flexible in how we work so that we can support local people as best we can. These are exciting times for Llys Cadfan as we look forward to be able to provide more specialist care here in the heart of the community, especially as the number of people with dementia will probably increase as we’re all living longer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwynedd Council is working with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on this project, and funding will come from the Welsh Government’s Intermediate Care Fund. It is expected that the project will be completed by the end of summer 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​