A CARE home near Stroud which has been under threat of closure will know its fate at a crunch meeting next week. 

Recommendations to develop new care facilities in the county are set to be agreed next week at a meeting of the county council’s cabinet.

Which care homes are potentially to be closed? 

The Cabinet is being asked to approve the closure of its existing, older care homes:

  • The Elms, Stonehouse, Stroud
  • Orchard House, Bishops Cleeve, Tewkesbury
  • Westbury Court, Westbury, Forest of Dean
  • Bohanam House, Gloucester

Stroud News and Journal: The Elms, Stonehouse

New facilities 

Plans to invest in new facilities, if agreed, would see a new or redeveloped facility on The Elms site in Stonehouse to provide support to the needs of Stroud residents in the longer term.

It is likely that a residential and nursing facility would be provided that could respond and be flexible to the care needs of the local district from 2025 onwards.

What did the consultation involve?

The consultation involved a series of meetings in each of the four homes where residents, their families and staff were invited to have their say.

Key issues raised focussed on the impact on health and wellbeing of the residents if they had to move to another home.

Others raised concerns around distance to the home for visitors without access to transport.

Comments from the Leader of Gloucestershire County Council

Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "I understand these proposals are likely to cause those directly affected to be anxious.

"Should the recommendations be agreed, we will do all we can to minimise any disruption for all concerned.

“We want to make sure we help people remain independent for as long as possible and if they need care, to be able to receive it in ways that works for them.

"When cabinet meets, it will have to weigh up the understandable and valid concerns raised by those in the four homes with the wider trends and issues impacting on the local care market.

"We cannot afford to do nothing.

"The risk of doing nothing is further instability, leading to failure of providers, services and facilities that are already in much demand, for example, nursing care.

If the closure of the four care homes is agreed, residents will be individually assessed and supported by social care staff to help them move safely to suitable alternative accommodation that can meet their needs.