Renovation works costing £2.3million at a care home north of Carlisle have been unveiled.
Eskdale House in Longtown has received the funding from Cumberland Council, which it said aimed to focus on dementia care and sustainability.
The facility has redesigned kitchen and laundry facilities, staff welfare facilities, and a dedicated break room.
The outside space has also been developed with new access ramps, flower beds, and the relocation of an oil tank to create level access.
There are also new lights, boilers, and insulation to make it greener.
What were 28 beds are now 21, as the current rooms were made larger, part of what the council said are its plans to increase the quality of care provided.
It comes after a community panel heard proposals from the council’s adult social care department to close Moot Lodge, arguing that it is not suitable for modern care quality requirements and that it would be financially unfeasible to pay for the upgrades in the way it has for Eskdale.
The council argues the Moot Lodge has limited lift capacity and inadequate outdoor space for residents with dementia and is not conducive to quality living and value for money as residents fund them.
There is also an ageing population and rising mental health complexities which Moot Lodge can’t fulfil, according to the council, and it’s looking more towards improving care provided at the home rather than care homes.
The proposed closure is currently under public consultation until May 23.
Cllr Lisa Brown, deputy leader of the council and executive member for adults and community health, said projects like Eskdale ‘help us to address the growing need for specialist dementia care’, and the home is ‘easy to access for all’.
It shows the council’s ‘commitment to investing in modern, state-of-the-art facilities’, Cllr Brown added.
Brampton councillor Mike Mitchelson has continuously shown staunch opposition to the proposal to close Moot Lodge.
“People say what’s good is it’s in the centre of town, it’s not just about removing the Lodge, it’s about removing care for Brampton," He said during a community panel meeting last month.
He added then that families wanting to visit residents in Carlisle would need to get a bus, and two if they’re in Longtown as there’s no direct link between the two towns.
READ MORE: Councillors scrutinise case to shut Moot Lodge care home in Brampton
With a rough minimum estimate of £2.5million on upgrades for Moot Lodge – based on the building’s square footage – Cllr Lisa Brown argued it’s not the same case as was with Eskdale’s £2.3million.
“Moot Lodge is over four floors.
“The care at Mood Lodge is brilliant, the staff there do an amazing job, but unfortunately, the building just falls short.
“Whereas this building we see as we walk around it, really lends itself to open outdoor spaces.
“The ceiling hoists in every room here, which you couldn't have in Moot Lodge, that's important for the staff.
“Even with a significant amount of investment, it still wouldn't be up to this standard.”
The figure for fully improving Moot Lodge has not been fully costed formally, however.
Cllr Brown encouraged people concerned to get involved in the consultation: “One thing we want to know is what do (people) want care to look like as they get older?
“More people want to stay at home.
“It’s about being modern, progressive, innovative, and finding out from people what they want going forward.”
But with fewer beds for Eskdale and the seemingly imminent closure of Moot Lodge, the case for further at-home care remains controversial.
Cllr Brown said she couldn’t comment on Moot Lodge’s future if, after the public consultation, an overwhelming response demanding it remains fully open is provided.
Longtown councillor Tim Pickstone attended the event, and commented: “It’s great to see the council investing in Longtown.
“It’s a brilliant facility that will hopefully provide safe and caring accommodation for many years to come.”
Cllr Pickstone declined to comment on Moot Lodge.
For more information about Moot Lodge’s public consultation, click here. https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/news/2024/cumberland-council-launch-public-consultation-future-moot-lodge-care-home
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