Dementia hub to bring people together
A NEW centre for people with dementia is set to open in Rochdale.
The Willows Dementia Hub will bring health and social care together to provide support for those living with dementia and their families.
Located at Springhill Resource Centre, the service was commissioned by Rochdale council and NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), in a bid to improve the services available for people with dementia across the borough.
The Willows has been refurbished and transformed into a community hub, designed using Stirling University’s ‘Standards for Dementia Design.’
It will provide a range of care, including for people with learning disabilities, in a dementia-friendly environment. Facilities at the centre include 18 residential rooms, respite accommodation, family rooms for relatives, and complementary community services. A range of day services will also be provided during the week.
The hub, which will officially open on Friday, November 2, will be run by Rochdale care provider GP Care Services Ltd, which worked with Rochdale Council and the CCG to create a dementiafriendly design for the building.
Dr Chris Duffy, from NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “This centre is a key part of our innovative approach to providing services in the community that are tailored to people’s individual needs and which address the key health issues affecting the wider community.”
Coun Iftikhar Ahmed, cabinet member for adult care at Rochdale council, added: “This is a fantastic new facility that will ensure people over the age of 18 who are living with dementia across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale can access some of the best possible care.
“We are proud to have commissioned what will be one of the UK’s leading centres to deliver dementia services.”
Gail Whitehead, chief officer at GP Care Services Ltd, said: “We want The Willows to be an active part of the community and we welcome the involvement of local residents, both as visitors to our cafe and as volunteers in our work with those who are living with dementia.
“We’re exploring ways in which we can work with local colleges and schools to provide learning opportunities for those studying health and social care.”