Towcester care home residents asked for views on it future

Residents at a care home that has "significant" under-occupancy are being invited to have a say on its future.

Ridgway House in Towcester, Northamptonshire, has 19 residents, but has a capacity for 35.

However, the first floor is not accessible to people with some care and support needs, lowering capacity to 25.

West Northamptonshire Council, which runs the home, said "inadequacy of its design and amenities" meant it could not meet "complex care needs".

Options put forward include making no changes to the facility or implementing its closure by stopping admissions and helping residents find alternative accommodation.

However, residents are also being welcomed to propose other suggestions in the consultation, which is open until 19 November.

The council said the building was more than 40 years old and would not meet current Care Quality Commission (CQC) accessibility requirements for newly built care homes.

The CQC's most recent inspection of Ridgway House in 2022 concluded that it "requires improvement".

There are no en-suite facilities and reduced accessibility for wheelchairs and hoists.

The Conservative-controlled council said it would also not be possible to improve the facility without bringing disruption to residents.

A condition survey in 2020 highlighted that to maintain the home at a basic habitable standard would require a minimum investment of approximately £1m over the next 10 years.

Matt Golby, councillor with responsibility for adult social care, said: "We are committed to ensuring that we deliver a high standard of care for all our residents and as their needs change or become more complex, that we can adapt the support we provide to meet their changing care needs.

"There will always be a need for residential care, and the proposed changes aim to ensure that individuals receive this care in modern, adaptable facilities that can meet their evolving needs."

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