Dementia centre brings 100 jobs to Wrexham
A new £4m centre in Wrexham is opening its doors, pledging to become a centre of excellence for dementia care, and creating 100 jobs.
The Bodlondeb unit at the Pendine Park residential centre will offer specialised care for up to 64 people.
The centre has asked a leading dementia expert, Prof Bob Woods from Bangor University, to help deliver a new model of care for residents.
He said the centre will be of major regional importance.
“We’re seeing an increase of roughly a third in the number of people with dementia over the next decade, so there is going to be a need for more support and care for people with dementia and their families,” said Prof Woods, who leads the Dementia Services Development Centre at Bangor University.
“I think the relatives of people with dementia in north Wales are going to be delighted to see this place opening.
“It’s got lots of space and it’s been designed for a wide range of people with dementia and younger people with dementia. It has fantastic potential.”
The centre has innovated care using the arts to help people with dementia, with Pendine Park’s resident artist set to hold one-to-one classes with residents.
Music sessions
They are also working with Prof Woods and his team to see how a musical collaboration can be adapted to enrich the care of people with dementia.
The collaboration with the Hallé was facilitated by Arts and Business Cymru, which aims to bring the worlds of arts and business together.
The sessions will be conducted by Hallé musicians, including the development’s new musician in residence Janet Simpson, who plays the piano and celeste, and cellist David Petri.
The owner, Mario Kreft, was awarded an MBE earlier this year for his services to the social care sector.
The development is dedicated to his grandmother, who developed Alzheimer’s disease later in life. The name of the centre – Bodlondeb – was also the name of his grandparent’s house in Rhyl, Denbighshire.
“Our vision is to provide a world class community based resource for people with various forms of dementia,” said Mr Kreft, who is also the honorary chief executive of Care Forum Wales.
“Bodlondeb will provide 24/7 services and they will include respite and day services, linked with our domiciliary care organisation.”
