A NEW care home specially designed to help residents with dementia has been officially opened.

The Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill development was officially opened last week and saw its first residents moving in on Monday.

The facility will be a centre of excellence for nursing and dementia care, with an integrated approach offering a full range of care and support for those wishing to live independently through to end-of-life care.

The new care home will also allow couples and individuals will be fully supported under one roof in order to live meaningful and independent lives.

It includes 20 purpose-built one and two bedroom apartments for individuals and couples affected by dementia, enabling them to live together in their own home with ‘shared’ care, respite and emergency support available 24 hours a day.

There is also a 64-bedroom care home offering specialist nursing and dementia care, respite and end-of-life care so residents can stay in familiar surroundings, plus a dementia-friendly community and resource hub with a restaurant, café facilities, activities and Brendoncare Club services for residents and people from the local community.

Chief executive Carole Sawyers said: “This is an exciting time for us. We are delighted to be pioneering a new concept in dementia care and supporting people living both at Otterbourne Hill and in the local area.

“Families will have peace of mind knowing their loved ones will be looked after for as long as is needed. We very much look forward to welcoming our first residents.”