Council Moves Forward With Two New Extra Care Schemes

Two new Extra Care schemes are set to be delivered in Bridgend County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The state of the art facilities will be developed at two former comprehensive school sites – Maesteg Lower in Maesteg and Archbishop McGrath in Ynysawdre – in partnership with Linc Cymru Housing Association. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project will create a total of 45 new Extra Care units with 20 located at Maesteg and 25 at Ynysawdre. These new schemes are also able to offer a residential care option to our existing residents for as long as required, as an alternative to the three ageing care homes within Maesteg, Ynysawdre and Ogmore Vale. The schemes have been developed as part of ongoing plans to modernise residential care services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Extra Care facilities are designed to offer tenants their own apartments fitted with all the equipment they need to live safely and independently. The residential facility will offer 24/7 on-site support alongside a range of community facilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They also enable couples to continue to live together within a supported environment after one partner’s care or health needs change. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The county borough’s first Extra Care facility, Llys Ton, opened at Kenfig Hill in 2011. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Mel Nott OBE said: “We are pleased to be working with Linc Cymru Housing Association on the forthcoming development of two new Extra Care schemes for the county borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Extra Care is designed to meet the needs of people as they grow older and enables them to live independently and actively for longer, and these facilities are destined to provide many benefits to the local community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Philip White, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Wellbeing, added: “We know that people in Bridgend County Borough want alternatives to traditional residential care, and we also want to create more sustainable care models to respond to projected increases in demand for care services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Extra Care is substantially different and massively advanced from traditional residential care. It remains the future of care throughout the UK, and we’ll continue to work with staff, service users and their families to ensure a smooth transition into the new facilities once they have been completed.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Susan Cooper, Director for Social Services and Wellbeing, said: “We are keeping in close contact with the people who live in the existing Homes and their families as well as staff and we will continue to do so. Their input is extremely valuable and we want them to contribute to the new plans to help us ensure that people can continue to benefit from all the care and support they need.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chief Executive of Linc-Cymru, Robert Smith, added: “Bridgend County Borough Council and Linc have worked successfully together on joint developments in the past and Linc has a reputation for delivering high quality accommodation and an excellent customer experience for our tenants. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are committed to delivering homes and services that promote wellbeing, dignity and choice for older people. Knowing that a loved one is in a safe and happy environment helps to alleviate stress and anxieties for families.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​