A DECISION is set to be made on plans to change day services for older people in Rhondda Cynon Taf which would see some day centres closed, services moved and two centres merged.
The proposals due to go before cabinet on Monday, December 18 would see Trecynon Day Centre and Cwmni Dda Day Centre merge by March 2024 with future services provided from Cwmni Dda and Tonyrefail Day Centre closed with services there moved to Cwrt yr Orsaf Extra Care in Pontypridd by March 2024.
The council said this move could save around £140,000 a year which would be reinvested into adult services.
The change would see Trecynon and Cwmni Dda merge on the Cwmni Dda site with Trecynon to be closed from April 2024.
Cwmni Dda day centre has been favoured over Trecynon day centre as it has a large room that is not currently used and therefore has capacity for more day centre users, up to 25 older people.
At Cwmni Dda Day Centre, people will also have access to sensory gardens, gardening opportunities, more accessible spaces and enhanced use of outdoor space, the report said.
If this proposal is approved, the report said it will involve no change to an individual’s level of care and support they receive and care staff will also be relocated with them to promote a seamless transition and to provide continuity of care.
The report recognises that it could cause some disruption to the day time support of the current attendees at both day centres during transfer and any such move would require careful management by staff from both centres.
It also said officers will contact all current people registered at both day centres and their families to discuss the proposal with those directly affected and provide extra support and, if necessary, a reassessment to ensure their needs will be appropriately met.
The second proposal involves the day service provision currently provided from Tonyrefail being transferred on a phased basis to Cwrt yr Orsaf in Pontypridd by March 2024 with the Tonyrefail centre closing by April 2024.
The report said that Cwrt yr Orsaf Extra Care in Pontypridd includes a new integrated day care provision, with daily capacity for up to 25 older people – the same as Tonyrefail day centre.
Although not yet opened, the council said Cwrt yr Orsaf will offer state-of-the -art facilities, as part of the wider extra care facility, to support people with a range of care and support needs and provide them with a more suitable and social environment to increase opportunities for socialisation through joint activities with residents such as accessing the cinema room, hair and beauty services and gardening opportunities.
It also said that Cwrt yr Orsaf provides a “much better location” to access the community outreach opportunities.
If this proposal is approved, all people registered at Tonyrefail day centre will be offered to transfer to Cwrt yr Orsaf or be supported to use different methods of achieving what matters to them, the report said.
Each person and their family will be offered the support of a social care worker or advocate to provide support and help with the move and care staff will also be relocated with the day centre to promote a seamless transition and to provide continuity of care.
The council report added that the transfer of services from Tonyrefail day centre to Cwrt yr Orsaf and the closure of the centre may cause anxiety for individuals who currently access the service and their families and officers will contact all current people registered at Tonyrefail day centre, and their families, to discuss the proposal with those directly affected and provide extra support if needed.
The report said that staff structures will need to be reviewed and any potential employment implications for staff will need to be consulted upon prior to any change in service.
Currently there are three day centres for older people eligible for the service in RCT which provide a mid-day meal, social activities and transport to and from the centre.
Tonyrefail Day Centre is a standalone day centre while Trecynon Day Centre and Cwmni Dda Day Centre operate from dedicated spaces at Cynon Principal Office and Tegfan Care Home respectively at the same site on Llewellyn Street in Aberdare.
The council also has day centre services at Cwrt yr Orsaf Extra Care in Pontypridd, which has yet to open.
The report said: “While the council’s day centres remain popular among the people that use them and provide respite for carers, attendance at them has shown a decline over recent years, reflecting people’s choice to have their wellbeing and care needs met by alternative means available within their own communities.
“In October 2016, 215 older people were registered at the council’s day centres and average daily attendance was 56 people.
“In October 2023, just 119 older people are now registered, and average daily attendance as reduced to 32 people, a reduction of 43%.
All day centre sites continue to be underutilised.
“Over a prolonged period, demand for day centre provision for older people in this sort of traditional setting has been declining across
Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“Increasingly, people are choosing other models of care to meet their individual needs, including outreach support work.
“This way of working is far less dependent on building based routines and is supportive of people accessing universal services reconnecting people to their community.”
The report added: “Reviewing and redesigning the council’s day service offer for older people will ensure services continue to be delivered in a way that promote individual wellbeing and independence while supporting more efficient service delivery and making best use of council resources.
“The proposals ensure that there will be no loss of service provision for current and future older people assessed as needing day service
support. Care staff will also be relocated with day service attendees to promote a seamless transition and to provide continuity of care.”
