Western Isles Council has revealed that plans for major revamp of care for older people on Lewis could cost £20million.
Investigations are under way by the integration joint board – responsible for managing adult health and social care – for a major service re-design on the island.
The board currently runs two care homes in Stornoway with a capacity for 71 rooms and operates another four rooms in Garrabost, Crowlista and Carloway.
But the facilities are decades old and, despite improvement works taking place there, longer term options have now been identified to replace them in the future.
A total of 99 bed units are being considered, which would include a mix of extra care housing and residential care – but the balance is yet to be agreed.
Work could start in early 2018 and would be phased in over time.
Early indications suggest the price tag for the changes could be in the region of £20million.
The housing aspect would take the form of tenancy agreements which would give service users more freedom and choice while still having the option of 24/7 care.
Emma Macsween, head of social and partnership services, said the integration joint board is hopeful of a “core and cluster model” but locations are yet to be decided. The care home would constitute the core and the housing the cluster.
Council leader Angus Campbell said the model could serve to take more care into the more rural communities in the Western Isles, adding: “That would certainly be an advantage because at the moment we may be spreading the service very thin, but the cluster model will allow more people to be available for different types of service.
“The tenancy housing model does encourage people to stay independent in the home and still be surrounded by the care service.”
The discussions for a re-design of services are taking place in the context of a Scottish Government task force report done in 2013 which outlined strategies for provision of future care services for older people.
An ageing population has been felt more acutely in the Western Isles.
Further consultation on the plans for Lewis will take place with service users and their families, as well as staff, this year.
Ms Macsween said: “In order to address the complexities of progressing investment in such services a governance structure has been agreed and meetings with stakeholders and partners will be instigated.
“This is an exciting opportunity to develop services for the current and future populations of our communities.”