North Yorkshire is set to revolutionise specialist care for older and disabled residents with a £60 million investment in innovative care and support hubs. The plans, unanimously approved by North Yorkshire Council’s executive, aim to address increasing demand for dementia care and rehabilitation services while alleviating financial pressures on adult social care.
The ambitious strategy will replace several outdated council-run care homes with up to five purpose-built hubs. These facilities will provide specialist care for up to 250 people at a time at a lower weekly cost than current operations. They will focus on advanced dementia care and intermediate care, which supports hospital discharge and prevents admissions.
“We want to provide the very best care and support for people at key points in their lives, whether that’s a hospital stay or a step-change in their dementia,” said Cllr Michael Harrison, the council’s executive member for health and adult services. “And we need to do so at a time when we face increasing demand and rising costs. The proposals to build the care and support hubs are a pioneering way to provide the specialist care that is needed and, at the same time, ensure the best value for our taxpayers.”
North Yorkshire faces unique challenges, with 24% of its population aged 65 or older, compared to 18% across England. This demographic trend is expected to accelerate, with the over-65 population projected to grow by 31% by 2043, representing a third of the county’s residents.
The need for dementia care is particularly pressing. Figures from the Alzheimer’s Society estimate that in 2021, 9,272 people aged over 65 in North Yorkshire were living with dementia. This number is forecast to exceed 15,000 by 2030, with two-thirds likely to require long-term care due to severe dementia.
The care hubs will also address the growing demand for intermediate care, which rose from 1,244 patients in 2021 to 1,471 in 2023 – an 18% increase in two years. These services provide short-term rehabilitation for patients discharged from hospital or help avoid hospital stays altogether.
The council plans to deliver the hubs within five years, with a goal of completing construction sooner. Work is already under way with Align Property Services, a council-owned company, to design and build the facilities. The first phase will focus on the Harrogate and Scarborough areas.
In addition to the hubs, the Extra Care programme, launched in 2003, will continue to provide housing schemes with on-site care, offering flexible solutions for older residents. There are already 28 Extra Care developments in North Yorkshire, with more planned.
The council’s director of public health, Louise Wallace, highlighted the increasing pressures on care services due to the county’s ageing population. Her latest annual report noted that 24% of residents are now aged 65 or over, with significant growth expected in the coming decades.
Detailed plans for each hub will now be developed, and the council will prioritise ensuring that these state-of-the-art facilities meet the evolving needs of North Yorkshire’s ageing population.
