Darlington care home unveils its new suite – specially designed for residents living with dementia

Home news

Jul 01, 2015

Staff and residents at Care UK’s Ventress Hall care home in Darlington proudly unveiled their new residential dementia suite on 26^th June, with a little help from Darlington’s new Mayor, Councillor Tom Nutt, and the Lady Mayoress.

Evelyn Chidgey, who is 102-years-old and a resident at Ventress Hall, helped Councillor Nutt with the ribbon cutting ceremony (pictured), and she and the Lady Mayoress were presented with stunning bouquets of flowers on behalf of everyone at Ventress Hall and Care UK.

After the ribbon cutting, visitors were able to take a look around the home, meet residents and teams and see for themselves what it’s like to live and to work in a care home. Entertainment and a strawberry tea were also laid on for visitors to the Trinity Road care home.

The home’s new 15-bedroom suite has two spacious lounges which overlook the home’s courtyard, as well as a dining room. The space was adapted from what had been the home’s nursing unit, which was recently moved to a single floor.

When a person is living with dementia, their vision, mobility and communication skills are all affected, so the new residential dementia suite at Ventress Hall incorporates the latest design approaches recommended for dementia care environments.

Care UK’s Dementia team provided guidance and support with the design and decoration of the suite, as did team members from the home, and from its Care UK sister homes around the area – Hadrian Park care home in Billingham, Woodside in Middlesbrough, the Terrace care home in Richmond and Elwick Grange in Hartlepool.  

Home manager of Ventress Hall, Judy Wray, said at the opening, “Today there are some 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia, and 80 per cent of people living in care homes have a form of dementia or severe memory problems. The needs of these residents are very specific.

“We have a great team, able to provide superb dementia care, and with the opening of the new suite, we now we have an enviable setting where residents living with dementia can receive that great care in the best, and most comfortable surroundings for them.”