A NEW care home planned for Westbury could help solve the problem of a shortage of housing specifically for the elderly in west Wiltshire.

The Abbeyfield Society, which already owns sheltered housing schemes in Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury, hopes to buy land at Bitham Park Road, owned by Wiltshire County Council, for the new development.

In a report to the council Ray Jones, head of adult and community services, said: "The proposal by Abbeyfield offers good quality accommodation and care facilities for older people in west Wiltshire who are no longer able to live in their own homes.

"The county council owns an area of land at Bitham Park Road which used to be part of the county farms estate and is currently let for grazing purposes only.

"It is considered that the land does have long term development potential and is being held for that purpose."

In a recent review carried out by the department of adult and community services it was revealed that an increasing number of elderly people are waiting to be admitted to residential and nursing home facilities, particularly those with dementia.

Between 2000 and 2002, the percentage of people with dementia waiting for admission to a care home increased from 40 per cent to 60 per cent.

The proposal put forward by Abbeyfield includes provision for those who need a high level of care, such as people suffering from dementia.

Mr Jones said: "A significant advantage of the scheme is the mix of registered nursing care beds with accommodation which provides higher levels of care support than sheltered housing can."

The plans are for 48 beds within the development as well as a day care centre, which would be open to community groups in the evenings and at weekends.

The council no longer directly provides residential care for the elderly but still has a responsibility to ensure there is an adequate supply of places.

Abbeyfield maintains the proposed new facility, which would also result in the creation of up to 70 new jobs, and would promote the social and economic well-being of the area.

The proposal is due to go before the adult and community services advisory panel of the county council on Thursday and is expected to gain the panel's support.