A DEMENTIA care-home will close after councillors voted in favour to rehouse its residents and offer its services elsewhere following dwindling occupancy and months of public consultation. 

The future of Heathlands Care Home in Wildridings - which is run by Bracknell Forest Council - was finally decided at a meeting of the executive on Tuesday evening, meaning its 10 permanent residents will need to be rehoused and its 35 members of staff could face redundancy.

Councillors had raised doubts about the centre as more than 50 per cent of its beds had remained vacant since mid 2014 and refurbishing and redeveloping the dated building to meet current standards of dementia care would be too costly.

More than 80 people frequently use the attached day centre each week. 

Though consideration was given to the prospect of a private company stepping in to rescue the service it seemed unlikely anyone would be willing to do so.

Residents, their families and carers were consulted on the future of the home with a range of options put forward, such as remodelling, upgrading and reopening the care home but as a smaller facility. 

The council's interim director of adult social care, health and housing, John Nawrockyi, said: "What is really important to stress before I say anything is that this is absolutely not about stopping a service but providing a service in a different way.

"We are not currently getting the best value out of Heathlands, it is very under-occupied so in terms of other costs it is a very expensive provision.

"It is a 1970s building and by 21st standards it doesn't really match up to what we meet expect in terms of the care market. 

"Other services will be better and because of the unoccupancy we will save the council a significant amount of funding, both in terms of quality of service and value for money in the future." 

Lead member for adult social care, health and housing, Cllr Dale Birch, who recommended the motion was passed, said: "While this is not something we want to do all the time this represents another step in our strategy towards looking after older people, both in terms of ensuring that they have the right accommodation and the accommodation is of the right standard. 

"The reason behind my decision is because of a known desire to have the care available through having the right setting.

"The area is now capable and will, in the coming years, be capable of providing the sorts of services for our residents and that choice is what this has all been about. This decision ends the era of provision in a single location and marks the beginning of a much more people-centred approach that will see us move into the 'Hospital at Home' concept where people want to stay in the community for as long as practicable and safe in their own homes and when that is no longer possible we now have the right level of support for them to choose." 

He added the council will fully support all those affected by the home's closure to find them alternative residential, nursing or day care provision. 

He later added: "Our next steps will be to provide a dedicated support team to carry out further detailed work with Heathlands residents and their families with a view to securing alternative residential, nursing or day care provision.  One option will be to move residents to another care home which will meet their needs equally and better than is currently possible at Heathlands.

"We are in contact with family members and will be guided by each individual's needs as to a timescale for moving residents.

"Staff at Heathlands have always been held in high regard by residents and their families, and this decision is by no means reflective of the quality of care that has been provided; we would like to thank them all for their significant contribution to caring for the elderly people of the borough."