CHICKENS FIRST IN AS PIONEERING SOUTHPORT DEMENTIA CARE HOME MOVE STARTS.

BIRCH ABBEY

DEMENTIA CARE SERVICE

PRESS RELEASE

June 29, 2010.

CHICKENS FIRST IN AS PIONEERING SOUTHPORT DEMENTIA CARE HOME MOVE STARTS.

Photos and video available.

The big move is on as Phase One of the UK’s most advanced dementia care facility, the iPersonally Memory Centre at Birch Abbey, Southport, is completed – and the first in on Wednesday, June 30, will be a brood of chickens (watch video).

The £5 million Alexandra Road care home – which will provide a service to the whole of Merseyside - features a range of facilities, up to 60 beds, and an approach to dementia care not previously seen in the UK.

The Birch Abbey team will start to move clients from the old building to the new purpose-built facility during the last week in June 2010, and once everybody has been installed the original building will be demolished and replaced by a second new structure, providing more beds, plus offices and admin.

“The first residents will actually be several chickens – they’re an important part of our community, and a clear illustration of the approach we’ll be taking at the new Birch Abbey and which was pioneered and developed at the original Birch Abbey,” said Dan Lingard, chief executive.

“We may have technology and facilities never before seen in a UK dementia care home, but it is the pioneering approach – acknowledged and documented across the care sector - that makes us truly different.

“Getting people with dementia using their minds and muscles – even in seemingly small ways – can have a massively positive effect.

“We’re creating a ‘living sensory garden’ – the chickens draw residents out into the garden, they provide a talking point; what’s more, our patients collect the eggs, make cakes or biscuits and talk about what they’re doing amongst themselves and to their family members providing valuable mental stimulus.

“Our new and expanded Birch Abbey will be a revolution in care services. To us it just felt right that Southport with its long tradition as a caring community should lead this revolution and the birth of a new era in care.”

Ends

Further information;

Iain Macauley

Pressrelations.co.uk

+44(0)161 929 0446

+44(0)7788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk www.ipersonally.co.uk

SOUTHPORT: BIRCH ABBEY LAUNCHES DEMENTIA DAY CAR CLUB

BIRCH ABBEY

DEMENTIA CARE SERVICE

PRESS RELEASE

June 18, 2010.

SOUTHPORT: BIRCH ABBEY LAUNCHES DEMENTIA DAY CARE CLUB.

The iPersonally Care Centre at Birch Abbey, Southport, has launched a day care club for people with dementia.

The £5 million Alexandra Road care home features a range of facilities, up to 60 beds - and an approach to dementia care not previously seen in the UK. But the expanded site and vast range of new facilities means the centre now has capacity for day care clients.

“There is massive demand for day care in and around Southport, and we had a huge waiting list - but we previously had very little capacity for day care clients. However, the new and expanded Birch Abbey has far more space and resource and is geared to offer day care places, with packages ranging from a single hour to full day care,” said Dan Lingard, chief executive.

“This means we can provide planned and scheduled by-the-hour or by-the-day day care for families who have known or regular schedules, or short-notice ad-hoc support for carers or families who find themselves with an urgent or emergency need.

“The day care clients get access to a range of services and facilities – five garden areas, eight recreational rooms, plus essential support services and the highly-experienced Birch Abbey team.

“Rather than simply gearing the new Birch Abbey to provide basic food, hygiene and life care for clients, we have designed in - from scratch - technology, accommodation, entertainment, social interaction and a broad range of care services and features that have never been seen together under one roof in the care industry.

“But, crucially, this is not just about a building – it is about a new, fresh, attitude to dementia care, service and support.”

Ends

Further information;

Iain Macauley

PressRelations.co.uk

+44(0)161 929 0446

+44(0)7788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk www.ipersonally.co.uk

http://birchabbey.blogspot.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pressrelations/sets/72157623968229359/