Milton Keynes Council is buying a 29 bedroom Care Home, called Five Acres, in the village of Simpson.  After a break of 24 years the Council is going back into the specialist care home provision, as part of its work to address the predicted 102% rise in older people with dementia by 2030.

The Council has purchased Five Acres Care Home for £1.2 million. It will allow the creation of specialist dementia provision. The purchase is funded from the Councils capital programme and from planning gain tariff money.

Milton Keynes Adult Social Care already provides dementia services in several locations across the city. At Courtney’s Lodge on South Furzton, Kilkenny House in Westcroft, and at Flowers House,  Bletchley Park. These services reflect the commitment to the National Dementia Strategy introduced by the Last Labour Government and adopted by Milton Keynes Council. The Council places a strong emphasis on supporting older and disabled people as they seek to remain independent and active and as some develop more complex needs.

The Council’s older people’s services are all regarded as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission.

The Council has taken legal, financial and specialist property advice. It will on the 8 November formally agree to buy the property and to further develop local dementia services.

Cllr Long added, “Five acres will allow the Council to develop our dementia care services The growth in such services is vital as the number of older people with Dementia is expected to grow from 2,300 people in 2015 to 4,738 people in  2030. This is 102% over the next 14 years.”

The Council is predicting that Five Acres will generate an annual surplus of £131,000 once it is fully operational.

Cllr Nigel Long pictured at Five Acres Care Home, Simpson Village

Cllr Long concluded, “Older and disabled people face a huge problem as a result of growing  challenges associated with ageing, complex needs and the growth in dementia at a time of continued Government cuts. This action will address growing needs and generate resources to invest back into care services.”