DEMENTIA ACTION ALLIANCE: COMMENT FROM ROS ALTMANN, SAGA.

ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR GENERAL


SAGA


PRESS RELEASE


October 27, 2010.

DEMENTIA ACTION ALLIANCE: COMMENT FROM ROS ALTMANN, SAGA.

Ros Altmann, Director General of Saga, the lifestyle organisation for over-50s, says the newly Dementia Action Alliance - charities, royal colleges, public and private companies pledging to transform the quality of life for people living with dementia – is a massive boost to the dementia consequence awareness cause.


Dr Altmann says that dementia issues are finally taking up their place on the social care agenda, and the momentum a potentially big-hitting alliance can provide is key.


“Dementia care, and, more importantly, dementia consequence awareness, is finally establishing traction. It may already seem to be a cause making progress, but for far too long it has been a cause hobbled by ignorance. Now is not the time to sit back and consider the job to have been well done, the fact is that we are a long, long way off establishing a full appreciation of just how debilitating the condition is, not just to people with dementia but for their carers, and, as life expectancy increases, the UK’s economy,” said Ros Altmann.


“Any initiative that has the potential to drive dementia consequence awareness, and hence force the government’s hand on dementia care, is a massively welcome addition to the movement to gain social justice for all those affected.

“The Dementia Action Alliance has the full support of Saga, and we will bring to bear whatever influence and support we can muster. It is a tremendous initiative.”


Ends


Further information:


Iain Macauley


im@pressrelations.co.uk


07788 978800


www.saga.co.uk

TWELVE JOBS CREATED AT SOUTHPORT’S BIRCH ABBEY, THE UK ’S “MOST ADVANCED DEMENTIA CARE CENTRE”.

BIRCH ABBEY

DEMENTIA CARE SERVICE

PRESS RELEASE

July 21, 2010.

TWELVE JOBS CREATED AT SOUTHPORT’S BIRCH ABBEY, THE UK ’S “MOST ADVANCED DEMENTIA CARE CENTRE”.

Photos and videos here.

Twelve new roles have been created at what is said to be the UK’s most advanced care facility for people living with dementia, the iPersonally Centre at Birch Abbey, Southport (www.iPersonally.co.uk). 

Birch Abbey has moved next door into a new £5 million building on Alexandra Road, Southport, and is recruiting experienced senior grade carers as well those new to the care sector but who have “a positive personality and attitude”.

“New team members will have a unique career opportunity to become specialists in the much-needed field of dementia care services – and Southport and its surrounding area has care running through the genes of its people, so we intend to recruit locally,” said Dan Lingard, Chief Executive and founder of Birch Abbey owner iPersonally.

“At Birch Abbey there’s a number of features and facilities, from technology to activities, never combined anywhere else in the dementia care sector – underpinned by a unique approach and attitude, plus the introduction of our unique day care service.

“It is a fantastic environment for our clients, which makes it a fantastic environment for our team. We have the very best dementia care team in the region and now we have the best environment in which to live and work.

“Right now we have full-time, part-time and ‘bank-work’ opportunities for senior carers, care assistants and care apprentices – it's a great career, for anyone, at any age, so long as they bring a positive and can-do attitude. We’ll provide all the required training and support in our own training centre. We also have opportunities in catering, cleaning, laundry and administration.

“Key to their roles is recognising what is important TO our clients and their families, as well as what is important FOR our clients. That’s a subtle difference, but extremely important. 

“Our motto is ‘things to do, places to go, people to see’ – and that sums up a key element of delaying or at least mitigating as much as possible the onset of dementia: keeping busy and active. If mind and body are kept active, then the onset may be slowed; at the very least life is focused on what we can do and what we can enjoy and our carers and their personalities are crucial to delivering that experience for each of our clients and their families.

“To support our team we are building our own training and education facility with a technology suite which enables us to train and develop our team, as well as care professionals from around the region and, hopefully, family carers who are interested to learn more,” said Dan.

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/

£5 million dementia care home opens in Southport

http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/southport-southport-news/2010/07/02/a-5m-dementia-care-home-is-set-to-open-in-southport-101022-26768006/

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