Peterhouse launch day care

The retirement centre has recently opened its doors to the local community by offering new day care which includes daily activity and social support.

This new service was the focus of a celebration which also marked the official opening of improved facilities such as a new and spacious lounge, sun terrace and car park expansion.

The event was attended by Town Mayor Councillor Patrick Douart as well as residents and their relatives, Friends of Peterhouse, and representatives of the Management Board including chairman Keith Fowler.

Manager Leslie Crisford said: "Today is very special. It is about celebrating all the developments that we have put in place this year."

Immediately on entering the building visitors can see to their left the new reception and administration room, while turning right they come into the spacious and airy day room, with built-in bar, which opens out onto a sun terrace.

Changes have been made further along the corridor where a new dining area for day centre users has been created, with kitchen, as well as different rooms to suit various activities such as listening to music or working on arts and crafts.

Leslie commented: "Day care is very much for those who wanted more stimulation. We have got a whole programme...It is quite structured. It is not just going and looking at one wall, it is about coming in and doing. The range of activities and therapies, we even have a chiropodist coming in and we can offer assisted bathing as well which seems important for a lot of the community."

Another new facility at Peterhouse is a sun terrace off the East Wing so that residents and their relatives can enjoy barbecues and relaxing outdoors.

The complex is also home to the Undercroft Conference and Training Centre which is available for outside use - businesses and organisations are now able to hire the training centre for conferences, meetings, clubs and societies.

Peterhouse is built over three acres, has 34 sheltered housing flats with four couples at present, as well as 36 care wing beds. It is run by NABS, and many of its residents come from an advertising, marketing or media background.

The intention now is to provide a full range of care to suit a wide variety of individual needs, whether that means providing leisure and therapeutic activity, respite care, sheltered accommodation or full-on attention for those who need constant help.

Leslie commented: "There has been a huge amount of change from what we initially provided. But it is a vision that has grown from when I first came four years ago. I think the vision was very much about making us more inclusive with the type of care we give to our residents and I have always wanted to link in more with the local community. While we work in the community, a lot of people in the local area don't know we are here.

"It was for better facilities for our residents."

For further details call 01424 730809.