Derbyshire County Council plans to consult on care home closures

The council plans to focus its resources on what it called a "growing demand" for dementia care

A council has set out plans to close a number of care homes in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire County Council will consider two options to be put forward for public consultation on the future of services for elderly people.

The authority seeks to propose the closure of eight day centres for the elderly and close up to 11 residential care homes.

Natalie Hoy, cabinet member for adult care, said the council was facing budget pressures "outside our control".

She said people wanting to stay in their own homes for as long as possible, with the right care, had led to a "decline in demand for traditional residential care".

Ms Hoy added the authority needed to focus its resources on the "growing demand" for dementia care.

According to the authority, one in 11 people in Derbyshire over the age of 65 is currently living with dementia.

'Pressures on budgets'

The cabinet will be asked to consider consulting the public on two options.

The first proposal includes closing nine care homes and retaining seven others, transforming them into specialist dementia care centres.

The other option suggests closing 11 homes and retaining five, making them dementia care centres.

Options one and two would have five or three on-site day centres within the remaining homes respectively, but both options would include closing eight day centres across the county.

The authority will be asked to vote on the consultation proposal on Monday 29 April.

It follows a vote to move forward with plans to shut adult care centres for people who are autistic or have learning disabilities.

Ms Hoy said: "This is not a position we want to be in, but with the pressures on budgets beyond our control we need to focus our resources where they're needed most."

She added that no decisions would be made "until everyone's views were taken into account".