hongkong A group of visiting Hong Kong healthcare professionals enjoyed a special preview visit to Westminster City Council’s new Dementia Care Resource Centre last week [28 February].

The centre, which will be formally opened on March 15, has recently been refurbished to offer a range of day activities, including music, cookery and hydrotherapy in a specialist pool.

Councillor Rachael Robathan, Westminster City Council’s Cabinet member for adult services, said: "I am really pleased that our visitors, the healthcare professionals from the Tung Wah group of hospitals, are coming to our state-of-the-art new Dementia Resource Centre to share approaches to the care of older persons and people with dementia.

"Care to some of our most vulnerable residents is of increasing importance to us all and it is only through sharing good practice that we can ensure that we can continue to deliver excellent services."

The specialists came to the Centre, on Westbourne Park Road in Westbourne Green, to learn about the services for people with dementia offered by Westminster City Council and housing and care provider, Housing 21.

National spokeswomen on ageing and dementia care, Baroness Greengross, will officially open the centre next week after it was remodelled for use by people with dementia using advice from the Dementia Services Development Centre of the University of Stirling.

The Dementia Resource Centre has been specifically designed and refurbished to better meet the needs of people with dementia and their families and to support independent activities.

University of Stirling's Richard Pollock explained the thinking behind the designs. "Colours used across the main areas have been made brighter and simplified, practical features, such as handrails are highlighted by the use of a different tone."

Mikkel Togsverd, regional operations director for centre manager's Housing 21 added: "We're delighted to be working in partnership with the City of Westminster in bringing this wonderful facility to the borough. We have a fantastic team at the centre who are providing a valuable service, both for the person living with dementia and for their family and carers."