Published: Thursday, 17th April, 2008 08:05
Lotto funds respite for dementia carers
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LORD Lieutenant, Sir Garth Morrison, cut the ribbon to officially open the new £130,000 dementia unit at Hollies Day Centre on Friday afternoon.
The new ‘Respite Room’ is a south-west extension to the day centre and houses a small kitchenette, toilet facilities and balcony overlooking the grounds.
It’s purpose is to offer carers of dementia patients, who are often relatives, a day off at least once a week.
Prior to the Respite Room’s opening the Hollies could only provide services for dementia sufferers on Tuesdays but now it will be open daily with up to 40 elderly people a week passing through its doors.
Funding for the project – which took seven months to complete – was provided by the Big Lottery Fund in 2007 following two previously unsuccessful bids in the last five years.
A further £50,000 was made available to pay salaries for two full-time staff members for 18 months.
Chair of the Hollies Day Centre management committee, Ann Proudfoot, said: “This is a new, bright and airy room which can cope with a lot more numbers each week than before and because of that it will give a lot of relief to people looking after dementia patients.”
In the course of his duties, Sir Garth also planted a tree in the grounds in memory of volunteer worker, Peggy Paterson, who died in September. The 96-year-old had worked in the centre since its opening in 1975.
At her funeral, the congregation was asked to donate money to the Hollies Day Centre, which raised £450.
The Lord Lieutenant said: “All those involved deserve warm congratulations for what they have achieved.
“I think this is a thoroughly good example of a local community providing care for its older people and not just leaving it to the health service to do it.”
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