ALL council-run residential care homes in Ceredigion look set to face significant changes, some in the way they are run under proposals being put out for public consultation.

Private providers are one of seven options being considered in the county.

Staff, residents, their families and all those interested are being asked for their views on the future of the homes including Hafan Deg Lampeter, Awel Deg in Llandysul, Yr Hafod in Cardigan and Min y Mor in Aberaeron.

The seven possible ‘approaches’ outlined include the possibility of transferring the management of some or all council-run homes to the private sector, redevelopment, or selling buildings and moving residents to private homes.

The consultation is expected to begin in the next week or so, members of the council’s Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee were told at a special meeting last week.

Information given in the draft consultation document explains a number of the challenges faced by the county, and Wales in general, with pressures on budgets, the complex needs of residents, out of date facilities, buildings coming to the end of their lives, and an ageing population.

The council’s director of care, protection and lifestyle, Parry Davies, said the number of people over 85 had doubled since 1983 and was expected to account for three per cent of the population in Wales by 2020.

“This is not a simple matter, the challenge is a major one,” he said. “We need to change.”

He added: “There are pros and cons to each one of these approaches and we have taken into consideration all possible approaches [for each home].

“I understand how sensitive this issue is, but we are trying to think not just about tomorrow or next year, but what’s going to happen over the next 20 years, and the homes we have haven’t got a 20 year life span.”

He said it was not about money.

“We must find savings, however this is not driven by that,” said Mr Davies.

It was discussed whether Arwel Deg should be part of the consultation given plans to reopen it as home specialising in dementia care.

The 26-bed home is temporarily closed and the consultation document suggests the existing buildings should be modernised and the home reopened as a dementia care home to meet the needs of the county.

Yr Hafod, in Cardigan, which has 29 beds (25 residential care, one respite and three joint care beds) suffers from high maintenance costs, poor overall condition of the building, outdated layout and fitting, and does not meet changing demands, the council says.

The document warns that short term capital investment is required just to maintain basic conditions.

Unions have been informed of the consultation with meetings due to be held in the homes for staff, residents and their families, and further meetings for ‘stakeholders’ in the community.

Councillors on the committee were concerned that news would cause considerable concern not only to those directly affected, but also in the wider community, and there may be demand for open public meetings.

Committee chairman Cllr John Lumley, and members, were also concerned that a four week consultation period proposed would not be long enough for community councils to respond to.

Cllr EurosDavies told the committee: “There are going to be strong feelings and people will want answers.”

The committee made several recommendations about the wording of the document, the information provided in it and the process the consultation will go through and the need for the council to recognise the good work of its care home staff.