New care home for Haverhill ‘will benefit the community’
Care UK's regional director of operations Chris Hopkinson at proposed new location for Place Court Residential Home.
A greater number of beds for dementia care will be just one of the benefits gained should plans for a new care home and well being centre get the go ahead in Haverhill.
The plans for the new facilities, which will be developed by Care UK, have gone on public display at Haverhill Library today (Thursday, March 14) between 2pm and 6.15pm.
The bespoke care home will be built in Millfields Way, on the site of the former Chalkstone Middle School, and will replace the current Place Court Residential Home in Camps Road.
The plans also include a well being centre, which will sit alongside the home and offer a range of day care services.
Chris Hopkinson, Care UK’s regional operations director, believes the new care home will provide greater levels of nursing and specialist care compared to that currently on offer, and the services will be available to the whole Haverhill community.
He said: “There is more space (in the rooms). They’ve got larger en-suites than the rooms have here and proper seating etcetera.
“When we move people we will take photos of their existing room and set the new room up as close to it as we can.
“We are working closely with Suffolk County Council’s social workers team to support the clients and their relatives as well and we are working with Age UK and Suffolk Family Carers, which are there to assist families and the carers.
“We would like to think it’s going to be better.
“Place Court does good care already, so we have no intention of changing that, we just want to develop that and have better systems to make that care easier.”
Place Court has 31 beds, 27 of which are in use, with 17 for frail and elderly care and 14 for dementia.
The new home will have 30 beds downstairs and a further 30 nursing beds upstairs, something Place Court does not offer.
An increase in the number of dementia beds and the introduction of nursing beds was something, said Mr Hopkinson, that Care UK and the county council gave specific attention to.
If the new home is approved, it will be split into four groups of 15 units, each with its own lounge and dining area, and there will be balconies, a garden and sitting out areas, a cinema and coffee shop.
To help put into context what the new home will offer, Place Court manager Becky Abbink has visited Care UK’s new home in Halstead, Colne View, which opened in May.
She said: “Going to the home in Halstead you can see the things that are happening and the spaces have got to be better for the residents because they’ve got more, and for the care purposes that’s got to be better.”
The plans have already been viewed by residents of Place Court and their relatives, and Mrs Abbink added: “The feedback has been very positive from all parties.”
The well being centre will include day care activities and clubs for older people, giving day respite care to their relatives.
It is hoped the centre will open seven days a week, have an on-site GP and offer health checks and possibly have specialist days where Care UK can introduce cognitive stimulation therapy, which specifically helps people with dementia to improve living with the condition.
Ultimately, believes Mr Hopkinson, the new facilities will be a plus for Haverhill.
He said: “You’ve got to look to the future and the future is really looking rosy and good for the Haverhill community.”
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Weather for Haverhill
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North
