Member Article

Work starts on £570k ‘dementia hub’

Work is now under way on a pioneering centre in Thornaby to help support people living with dementia and their carers.

In July this year, Stockton Council and health partners won a bid to secure £576,000 from the Department of Health to create the ‘LiveWell’ Dementia Hub, and transform the Halcyon Centre into a centre of excellence in dementia-friendly care.

Work has now started on the centre, which is expected to be completed in spring 2014.

Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Health, Councillor Jim Beall, said: “We know that dementia can be an extremely demanding and often frustrating condition so we are delighted that we will soon have this pioneering facility on our doorstep to provide first class support for people living with dementia and their families.

“The Dementia Hub will make a real difference to the lives of many of our residents.

“It will be an invaluable addition to the care and support services we provide so I’m really looking forward to seeing it complete and open.”

Stockton Council and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust will work together providing specialised dementia friendly day care, the new Dementia Hub and memory clinic services at the Halcyon Centre.

Tina Jenks, head of mental health services for older people at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: “People are living longer and the number of people with dementia is increasing.

“We’re constantly developing our services to help people with dementia remain independent for longer and prevent unnecessary admissions into hospital care.

“This new dementia hub will mean local residents with dementia and their carers can access the treatment, information, advice and support they need quickly, to help them continue to have the best possible quality of life.”

The existing Halcyon Centre will benefit from an extensive programme of refurbishment, utilising dementia-friendly design principles to enhance and enrich the client experience and support the provision of outstanding care for those living with dementia.

People who currently use the Halcyon Centre are already looking forward to the improvements.

One of the residents, 72-year-old Harry Fowler, said: “This centre is already smashing but when the works are complete it will improve even more.”

Nina Otter, 79, added: “I’m looking forward to the ceiling in the dining room being lowered, it’s very noisy at the moment and that should stop the echoing.

“The kitchen which the ladies work in will also be even better when it’s finished with nice, clear surfaces and a new cooker.”

The ‘LiveWell’ Dementia Hub will be a single ‘one stop shop’ offering assessment, information and consultation opportunities for people living with dementia, their families, carers and the wider public.

The project is one of the first national pilots to showcase the best examples of dementia friendly environments across England.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .