Residential and nursing services for older adults (65 and over)

We commission residential and nursing services for older adults through a framework agreement. This framework has been developed to deliver person-centred care. Currently, over 70 providers are registered to deliver services on behalf of the council, including 44 providers (54 care homes) within the Cumberland region. In addition to the framework, the council’s in-house provider, Cumberland Care, also operates a further eight care homes within Cumberland.

We use a usual price banding. These bandings are: residential, residential and nursing - physically frail, residential dementia and nursing dementia.

The maximum capacity of care homes in Cumberland is 2,374 beds with a reported occupancy rate of 87%. A number of the reported vacancies are currently unavailable, so the number of vacant admittable beds is closer to 8%, with less vacant admittable beds in residential dementia (6%) and nursing dementia (6%) services.

Proportion of older adults beds by provider type

This uses CQC data:

• National: 50%
• Regional (North East): 8%
• Regional (North West): 1%
• Cumberland Care: 12%
• Local: 29%

We have a mixed residential and nursing provider market. We have a larger locally-based care market than many other areas, which generates and keeps wealth in Cumberland.

12% of older adults beds are within Cumberland Care residential homes. Cumberland Care does not operate any nursing homes.

72% of older adults beds in Cumberland are residential.

There is a gap in nursing provision (particularly dementia nursing) in many areas.

The west Cumberland area generally has higher provision of both residential and nursing care relative to population size.

Market strengths

Mixed provision (care home size and ownership type).

Widespread residential provision.

Quality of market (over 80% of care homes rated Good or Outstanding by CQC).

Market challenges

Recruitment and retention of skilled staff.

Increasing number of people with complex and specialised care needs.

Gap in provision in some areas, particularly for nursing.