A new customised residential dementia unit has been opened at Martin House in Southall.
There are now 15 new beds for local people suffering with dementia, in a unit that has been repurposed to be welcoming, bright and comfortable.
It has also been customised to dementia-friendly standards meeting the specific needs of the residents who will be using it. This includes sensitive use of colour, textures, wall art and state of the art interactive tables that encourage sensory activities, memories to be shared and brain activity for individuals and group activities.
Opened by Leader of Ealing Council, Councillor Peter Mason and local MP Virendra Sharma, the facility is now ready for residents to start moving in.
Rising demand for support
Leader of the council, Councillor Peter Mason said: “The new dementia care unit at Martin House will offer a bright, comfortable and customised unit of 15 new residential dementia beds in Southall”.
“One in 3 people will develop dementia in their lifetime and the numbers of people living with dementia in the borough is forecasted to exceed 5,000 by 2035. Recognising the magnitude of this challenge, we emphasise the importance of working together. The establishment of the unit demonstrates our dedication to addressing changing needs through partnerships, ensuring we can meet the growing demand for dementia care services.”
The unit was the result of a partnership between Ealing Care Alliance, Minster Care and Ealing Council who have responded to the national pressures in the social care system by working together to create new high-quality facilities in the borough.
Councillor Blacker, cabinet member for healthy lives said: “We hope this facility will be the first of more to come and look forward to a continued working relationship with our partners to support healthy lives for the residents of Ealing, developing valuable services in this home and others which reflect and meet the future needs of our community. We are also proud that these vital services will be provided to residents by staff who are paid the Real Living Wage in-line with our council commitments.”
