Community comes together for grand opening of new Ipswich care home

Home news

Jul 08, 2014

Another milestone has been reached in Care UK’s £60 million investment plan to help transform older people’s care in Suffolk, in partnership with Suffolk County Council.

Younger and older generations from the Ipswich community joined together to cut the ribbon and celebrate the grand opening of Asterbury Place, the second of 10 new care homes opening in 2014 and 2015 and the first of two new homes for Ipswich (the second will be Prince George House in Ravenswood).

Four residents from Hawthorn Drive care home in Ipswich and two from Angel Court in Hadleigh helped cut the ribbon to their new home. In total, 38 residents will be moving into Asterbury Place over the next two weeks, after which the existing homes will close. Year one pupils from The Oaks Primary School, Megan Lidster and Tyler Peck, also helped cut the ribbon with the residents. The school is next door to Asterbury Place and all the pupils took part in an art project in the lead up to the opening after visiting the new care home.

The Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Bill Quinton, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Care, Councillor Alan Murray, and Care UK Managing Director for Residential Care Services, Andrew Knight, took part in the ceremony.

Councillor Alan Murray said: “The opening of Asterbury Place is another stepping stone in realising the vision we had for the future of long term care in Suffolk. Asterbury Place boasts great facilities and with its friendly and welcoming design I am sure that the residents will be extremely pleased with their new home.

“With the number of older people and those living with dementia in Suffolk set to double by 2030, it was essential that we found a provider that was able to invest in and run homes and clubs that provided the highest quality of care for Suffolk residents – Care UK has demonstrated that it is more than up to the job.”

Asterbury Place, on Aster Road in Ipswich, 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 a café.

The adjacent Asterbury Club will offer day and respite services to help older people locally to enjoy a regular day out 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.

Andrew Knight, Managing Director of Residential Care Services, Care UK, said: “The opening of Asterbury Place is another major milestone in Care UK’s partnership with Suffolk County Council, as it is the first of our homes with places for 80 people to open.

“Asterbury Place directly addresses the county’s need for a better provision of older people’s care, and the state-of-the-art furnishings, equipment and facilities will provide the highest levels of safety and comfort so residents can enjoy living as independently as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming the first residents and first club members in the coming weeks.”

The opening of Asterbury Place was attended by local councillors, community groups and health and social care representatives, as well as members of the public who enjoyed an open afternoon with guided tours of the facilities and free refreshments prepared by the Asterbury Place chef.

On Thursday 17 July there will be an Understanding Dementia seminar at the home. Call 0333 321 1990 for more information about Asterbury Place or to book a place at the event.