Residents return to cut the ribbon on their new care home in Bury St Edmunds

Home news

Aug 18, 2014

Residents have cut the ribbon on a brand new state-of-the-art care home, built on Shakers Lane in Bury St Edmunds.

The new Davers Court care home replaces the original home on the same site, which dated from the 1960s, following a £6 million redevelopment which began in July 2013. Davers Court is one of ten new care homes to open across Suffolk in 2014 and 2015 as part of Care UK’s investment into older people’s care, in partnership with Suffolk County Council.

Joyce Dewild, a resident of the original Davers Court who moved to Glastonbury Court during the redevelopment, was delighted to officially cut the ribbon for the new home alongside fellow resident Peggy Field. Joyce and Peggy are excited to be returning to Davers Court, and will be amongst 64 residents who are looking forward to moving in from Glastonbury Court, over a two-week period, from Monday 18th August. Once all residents have moved into their new home, Glastonbury Court will close and a redevelopment of this home will begin.

Councillor Alan Murray said: “The new Davers Court is, in fact, the third new care home to open as a result of the partnership between Suffolk County Council and Care UK.

“Residents now have a state of the art home, specifically designed to meet their needs - now and in the future. Using the latest thinking and building techniques, residents with dementia will be much better supported too.

“We’re working to make sure residential care in Suffolk provides the very best for people in our county. The opening of Davers Court is taking an important step in that clear direction.”

Davers Court is a spacious, modern, state-of-the-art care home providing nursing care as well as residential accommodation, so if a resident’s needs change they don’t need to move to an alternative home or to hospital. The latest thinking in design, build and decoration have been used to support the care of residents with dementia and there are landscaped gardens, a cinema, hairdressers, hobbies room and coffee shop.

The new home also includes an adjacent Davers Club, which will offer day and respite services to help older people locally to enjoy a regular treat, keep up with their favourite hobbies, enjoy a freshly cooked meal and make new friends. The club will have flexible opening hours according to local demand, and will offer full day or by the hour day care.

Carole Hunt, chief operating officer for Residential Care Services, Care UK, said: “The opening of Davers Court and the Davers Club is another major milestone in Care UK’s partnership with Suffolk County Council, which is transforming the facilities and services for older people’s care across the county. The care home and club are both furnished and equipped to provide the highest levels of safety and comfort so residents can enjoy living as independently as possible. We very much look forward to the first residents moving in on Monday, and to welcoming the first customers at the Davers Club.”

The grand opening of Davers Court was attended by local councillors, community groups and health care representatives as well as members of the public who enjoyed an open afternoon with guided tours of the facilities, as well as free canapés and cakes prepared by the home’s chef.

Davers Court is the first of two new homes to open in Bury St Edmunds, the second being Glastonbury Court care home on Glastonbury Road, which will undergo a complete redevelopment in September 2014 after all residents have moved out.

Following the opening ceremony there will be other opportunities to take a look round the facilities and meet the Care UK team, including two free events which will be hosted at the Davers Club in the coming months. These events are a Health and Wellbeing open day on Wednesday 10th September from 11am-4pm, run in partnership with Suffolk County Council, and an ‘Understanding dementia’ event with dementia expert Neil Mapes from Dementia Adventure, which will take place on Wednesday 1st October from 12pm-3pm.

For more information about Davers Court and the Club, or to book your free place on one of the upcoming events, call 0333 321 1982. www.careuk.com/davers-court

Photo caption: Joyce Dewild, a resident from the original Davers Court home (second from left, holding scissors), cuts the ribbon to her new home with (to her left) Care UK chief operating officer for Residential Care Services, Carole Hunt, and (to her right) Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Care, Suffolk County Councillor Alan Murray. They are joined by resident Peggy Fields (seated, front), the Care UK Davers Court team and guests.