Many care home residents are publicly funded

The Care Forum Wales has issued the warning after receiving details of the fees which will be paid by Welsh local authorities for publicly-funded residents.

The difference between neighbouring councils on the border is quite marked in some cases - Wrexham and nearby Cheshire have a difference of nearly �60 per week.

Mario Kreft, care home owner and head of policy and public affairs for the forum, said it could mean homes will bring in better-funded residents from England.

Mr Kreft, who owns two homes in Wrexham, said the council pays �249 per week for non-private residents.

This compares with �306 paid by neighbouring authority Cheshire.

He said it could prompt homes to either take more privately-funded residents, or look to take them from better-financed authorities in England.

We're seeing more and more care homes closures across Wales and it's going to continue in the years ahead Mario Kreft, Care Forum

At present, 70% of care home residents in Wales are publicly funded.

According to Mr Kreft, 160 care home beds were lost in Wrexham last year because of underfunding.

He told BBC Radio Wales the current fee was not economically viable for homes.

The Care Forum has also raised the spectre of bed-blocking within the NHS caused by a shortage of care home places.

"The problem that we have had for a number of years now, and the Care Forum has been raising this issue, is about an assessment process that ought to be taking place with every individual.

'Closures'

"So we can assess actually assess what they require and what the likely cost implication of that assessment is," said Mr Kreft.

"Without such a process, we have really got a one-size-fits-all approach which just isn't working.

"We're seeing more and more care homes closures across Wales and it's going to continue in the years ahead."

The forum is running a campaign, A Fair Price for Care, calling on the Welsh Assembly government to bring more money into the sector to tackle home closures, bed-blocking and low pay.

Wrexham council's social services chief officer Andrew Figiel said: "We recognise some of the difficulties experienced by the independent sector, which is part of a national issue.

"In Wrexham, we are working with the sector to try to resolve the issues within the resources available to us."