THE future of care for older people around Yarmouth and the rest of Norfolk will be in the spotlight next week. Norfolk County Council Cabinet members will decide on Monday whether to pursue the idea of creating a new public sector care company to help meet the demand for high quality accommodation with care.

THE future of care for older people around Yarmouth and the rest of Norfolk will be in the spotlight next week.

Norfolk County Council Cabinet members will decide on Monday whether to pursue the idea of creating a new public sector care company to help meet the demand for high quality accommodation with care.

The proposed public sector care company would manage Norfolk County Council's current and future care accommodation, including Housing with Care and Residential Care Homes.

The new care company would be responsible for helping the County Council achieve its aim of giving older people in Norfolk - who need housing, support and care - a range of choices which offer them the care and support they need to lead as independent a life as possible.

Councillor David Harwood, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: “Our aim is to provide more care places, at better value and in better buildings.

“Housing with Care schemes are excellent, and the public tell us they want more of these. Our care homes are aging, with some over 40 years old, and while our staff provide an excellent service, we need to think about the future.

“This change requires major capital investment in difficult economic times which we can not do alone.”

The new care company would be able to access the commercial opportunities and capital funding needed to transform residential care homes to provide the extra 2500 care places needed across the county.