Dementia home to create 50 jobs
WORK has started on a specialist housing site for people with dementia – bringing 50 new jobs to the area.
The care development, believed to be the first of its kind in North Tyneside, will be constructed on a three-acre site near the A19 in Backworth, off Killingworth Lane.
It will have housing for 40 people living with dementia or other cognitive impairment. The scheme will create around 50 jobs when doors open in June 2021.
The project has been put together jointly by Northumberland Estates and Age UK North Tyneside’s subsidiary company EveryDay Homes.
Dawn McNally, chief executive of Age UK North Tyneside, said: “We are incredibly excited about this new development with Northumberland Estates.
“The company has invested heavily, not just in the construction of the scheme, but also in terms of expertise in housing for people in later life, pulling on advice from Stirling University and Shadbolts, the architects. It has been a pleasure working with people who share the same vision – to help people make more of life.
“We believe we offer a unique approach to housing as we can offer our full range of services to our tenants, which range from communitybased health and wellbeing activities to professional care and support services and Admiral Nursing.”
The site will have 28 apartments for individuals as well as couples, and a further two bungalows, specially designed to accommodate up to 12 people who may present more complex needs.
Each resident will have access to communal areas where social and private leisure activities can be carried out as well as an on-site dementia specialist Admiral Nurse.
The grounds will be landscaped to encourage residents to regularly enjoy the outdoors and will also include features such as a sensory garden, raised flower beds for communal gardening, as well as a wildflower meadow and fruit orchard.
Colin Barnes, head of planning and development at Northumberland Estates, said: “This is a very exciting project for us.
“Northumberland Estates has created a number of successful developments on North Tyneside over the past few years. We are looking to put back into the community and projects such as this are one way to achieve this.
“Through Age UK North Tyneside, we have been able to access invaluable advice from those living with dementia and their carers which has been incorporated into the design at all levels.”
Coun Gary Bell, from North Tyneside Council, added: “This is a new and exciting development in North Tyneside. Working together with Northumberland Estates and EveryDay, this is an opportunity for us to create something unique that is tailored to the needs of people with dementia and that offers a welldesigned housing and care service.
“This service will enable people with dementia to remain independent and live in their own home for longer.
“A skilled care team from EveryDay will be based in the development 24-7 and will offer care sensitively and in response to individuals’ changing needs.
“The development will offer those with dementia the choice to live somewhere that feels like home – somewhere they can decorate and furnish – with the confidence and security offered by the building and the care team that they will be safe and well for years to come.”