A NEW £9.1 million care home in Bearsden, providing care for over 80 older people, will be officially opened by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil, today (Wednesday, 15 January 2014).
Antonine House Care Home is the most recent to be opened by Meallmore, one of Scotland’s leading providers of nursing and residential care. It forms part of their wider investment plans in new, high-quality care homes and refurbishments, which will see a further £30 million being invested over the next five years.
Alex Neil will formally open Antonine House Care Home in Roman Road during a special celebratory Open Day for residents, their families and the local community.
Since opening in May 2013, the 81-bedroom home offering nursing care for frail elderly people, and for people with dementia and its related conditions, will bring more than 120 jobs to the area.
A key feature of the home is several reminiscence areas where staff are able to explore older people’s past and present lives with them. This is particularly useful to help residents with dementia prompt fond memories that may have been locked away. Staff are also trained as champions in dementia, continence, nutrition, palliative care, falls and skin integrity to help drive up standards of care.
Health Secretary, Alex Neil, said: “All of Scotland’s older people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in a safe, caring and homely setting. This is particularly important for people living with dementia when their needs mean that living independently at home is no longer an option.
“I am delighted to be opening this fantastic new £9.1 million care home and I’m really looking forward to meeting staff, residents and their families.
“With its modern facilities and innovative new approaches, such as reminiscence areas which take patients back to more familiar times, Antonine House Care Home can provide care with dignity and respect in a personal manner.”
Meallmore now has 22 homes in Scotland for elderly and frail people and people living with mental health conditions.
Honoured to be welcoming the Cabinet Secretary to Antonine House, managing director of Meallmore Ltd, Gerry Hennessey, said: “It’s a particularly exciting time for Meallmore and all our care homes. Our achievement and growth would not have been possible without the hard work and loyalty of our dedicated staff. In the next five years, we will be investing up to £30 million in Scotland, which includes developing new high quality care homes as well as improving our existing homes.
“Antonine House is a great example of the exceptional standards of care that has come to be expected of Meallmore. We’re a dedicated family who are completely ‘hands-on’. We know our staff and residents well, that’s important to us.”
Care home manager, Bobby Dougan, said: “We’ve created a modern, luxury home that provides first class accommodation for our residents. People are now living longer and have more complex needs and associated health issues that we have the experience to care for. We tailor our care plans to meet the needs of each resident who deserves to enjoy the later years of their lives in a comfortable, safe and fun environment.”
The development, which currently has 25 residents, includes a cinema room, an activity and reminiscence room, nine dining rooms so people can choose where to dine, as well as a hair and beauty salon for residents and roof top terraces.
Marion Smith, who has been a resident of Antonine House since it first opened in May 2013, said: “I enjoy the company of my fellow residents and the sanctity of my room. I can participate in many of the activities and outings organised by the care home but I’m under no pressure to do so.
“Having lived in the area for some time it was easy for me to choose to live here. I quite literally moved from across the road so it’s been nice for me to continue my interests in local activities which I have been part of for many years, as well as visit the local shops that I’m familiar with. Yes, life has changed but now there is security along with freedom and friendship.”
For information about Antonine House Care Home, please call the Care Home Manager Bobby Dougan on 0141 942 4644.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
Meallmore
- Meallmore Ltd opened the doors of its first nursing home for the elderly 26 years ago in Daviot, just south of Inverness.
- Meallmore has evolved as one of the country’s leading providers of nursing and residential care, with 22 care homes throughout Scotland. Eighteen of these are for elderly and frail residents, while three are for people with mental health conditions. Their 22nd care home, for people with mental health conditions, is currently under construction in Baillieston.
- The company is owned and operated by the Hennessey family along with a dedicated management team, including registered nurses and social care workers whose expertise is evident in the excellent standard of care provided by each of the homes.
- Gerry and Aidan Hennessey won an Innovation, Partnership and Development award in recognition of their cutting edge achievements in the care sector over the last 25 years. They introduced a fully electronic recording system for all care and administrative records, replacing the written systems that have been in place at most care homes for decades, revolutionising the way staff care plan and increasing the time they have for hands-on-care.
Antonine House, Bearsden
- Antonine House Care Home is a purpose built 81-bed facility providing care for people with general nursing needs including those with dementia and its related conditions.
- The high quality complex will create up to 120 of posts for nurses, care assistants, hotel services staff, administrators and managers.
- Rooms within the luxury home will far exceed national care standards and residents will have access to a wide range of leisure activities. Residents can also expect a quality dining experience.
- It includes an activity and reminiscence room, nine dining rooms to offer greater choice, as well as a hair and beauty salon for residents, a cinema room and roof top terraces.
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