Residential care fees in Ceredigion’s independent sector and authority homes will be increased by more than six per cent.

The setting of fees for 2021/22 at £644 a week for residential very dependent elderly care and £686 a week for residential dementia care was signed off by cabinet on Tuesday, June 15.

Cabinet member for Porth Cynnal Cllr Alun Williams said that the two per cent increase in settlement funding had impacted fee setting and a series of meetings have been held with all care homes, including the 11 independent homes, about the latest fees.

The same level of fees will be charged at Ceredigion local authority homes to “align these fees” and in-depth reviews of all residential fees will be carried out before the 2022/23 financial year, in line with Welsh Government guidelines.

Cllr Williams said that the last in depth review of care homes fees formed part of the 2018/19 financial year and in 2019/20 a 4 per cent “uplift” had been mutually agreed by council, and a similar amount last year.

It was recognised that Covid-19 had brought increased challenges and care homes are “facing increased costs in areas such as utilities, insurance and staffing” as well as covid-19 operational challenges, cabinet heard.

Residential care homes were presented, and agreed, an increase of 6.45 per cent for residential home fees – £605 to £644 – and 6.36 per cent for residential dementia care – £645 to £686 a week.

“Whilst the residential care homes in the county were seeking a far higher increase, there has nevertheless been agreement by all the residential care homes that they are willing to accept this final offer.

“Further consideration is still being given to the fee setting for nursing homes,” said Cllr Williams.