Plans to invest £11m to develop dementia day care facilities revealed

 

Plans to invest £11m to develop dementia day care facilities revealed

 Councillors will consider proposals to fund two new day care facilities to support adults living with dementia in Kirklees.

 Cabinet will be reviewing next week (21 September) £11m proposals to build new dementia day care facilities at Knowl Park House in Mirfield and The Homestead in Almondbury to ensure people continue to receive high quality services that achieve positive outcomes.  The proposals are based on work with service users, carers and staff contributing to shaping the plans.

Both new proposed schemes benefit from improvements to the environment by using the Stirling University dementia friendly design standards to improve accessibility for all, with the accommodation layout focussed around four main zones: A Home Therapy Zone incorporating a homely open plan lounge, dining and kitchen area; an Activity Zone incorporating a large arts and crafts room; and a Wellbeing Zone with a sensory and cinema room and a spa, and a bespoke accessible sensory garden.

Councillor Musarrat Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care said: “It’s vital that we take advantage of the latest research and technology to support our residents living with Dementia and I’m pleased that we will be discussing these proposals to enhance the support available for people in North Kirklees.

 “We have worked collaboratively with the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) to ensure the new facilities incorporate dementia design principles and meet the DSDC dementia design standards. Once open, the new flexible space could allow for access on evenings and weekends to meet the needs of people in a more flexible way and to provide a wider range of support for family carers.” 

  Plans for Knowl Park House will include provision of a Centre of Excellence.  The centre will offer advice and support for people with a dementia diagnosis, their carers and adults and children with other physical and sensory disabilities.

 The facility will showcase to people how areas of home-living design and new technology can help them make positive changes to their current accommodation.  There will also be opportunities for partnership working and the focus will be on early intervention, so people are better able to stay independent for as long as possible.

 For further information about Knowl Park House, please visit the website: www.kirklees.gov.uk/knowlparkhouse