AN 82-year-old gran says the threat of closure hanging over council- run residential care homes in Llanelli is effecting elderly residents' health.

June Newnham, whose 90-year-old sister Marie James lives in Caemaen home, said: "When this first came out there were 40 residents, but since the controversy they are down to 30.

"I'm not sure how many have passed away. But I'm sure it's playing on the minds of the residents.

"I think it's odd that so many, all of a sudden, have become ill or are in the hospital. It is telling on them."

Her comments follow a reprieve on Monday which gave Llanelli's threatened Caemaen and St Paul's care homes a stay of execution.

Protesters filled the public gallery at County Hall in Carmarthen as councillors met to discuss a report on social care in the county.

Councillors decided that "other options", including a new building or extensions, would be looked at for the two Llanelli sites.

They also agreed to await the findings of the Assembly Government commission into social care, due for completion in November.

Councillor Keri Thomas was applauded by protesters when he called for the St Paul's home to be rebuilt or extended.

He said: "I do think we should be looking for a new home for Llanelli."

Councillor Sian Caiach echoed him by calling for more time.

She said: "I don't see why we should rush these recommendations when we've got an awful lot of uncertainty, and in a few months time, we might be in a totally different position in terms of financial support."

Expensive

Councillors asked why the authority was under- funded by the Assembly for its social care.

Social services director Bruce McLernon said small, council-run care homes were too expensive when compared with those of third party groups. He pointed to a new care home under construction in Llanybydder — the cost has been shared with housing organisation Gwalia, which will then run the home.

He said: "The reality is we are in a mixed social care market.

"If you look across the social care sector, then a fair part is provided by other organisations."

Councillor Anthony Jones called for a full breakdown of costs for running homes and the budgets available.

Councillors agreed to put the proposals out for consultation, including the recommendation that no decisions be made until the Assembly commission was completed.

After the meeting, a council spokesman said: "In terms of the Llanelli area, the task and finish group recommends that a full range of options are explored/ developed for the Caemaen and St Paul's sites.

"This will include seeking interests from other parties who could invest in the upgrade/redesign of the buildings and that all stakeholders are fully consulted on these options."

Stephanie Williams, secretary of Residents Against Care Home Closures, said: "The homes are not closing now, whereas six months ago they were closing.

"The residents were saying, we can have Christmas dinner in Caemaen and it has given us some hope.

Over

"We are quite positive, but the fight goes on. It is not over by any stretch."

Regarding concerns over the falling headcount at Caemaen, council head of integrated services Sheila Porter said: "There's been a planned reduction of beds at Caemaen over the past 18 months because some of the rooms are no longer suitable for delivering care to highly-dependent people — for instance we cannot get hoists into those rooms.

"We have absolutely no evidence residents' health is suffering, although we can appreciate residents will be concerned about the future."