Gold standard dementia day care facility officially opens
We have officially opened our new and modern gold standard day care facility for adults living with dementia.
Plaque unveiling
At an official opening ceremony today (14 May), the Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Nosheen Dad, unveiled a commemorative plaque at Knowl Park House in Mirfield in the presence of key dignitaries from the council and health and social care partners across Kirklees.
Guests at the opening
The ceremony was attended by staff, service users who are already using the facility, and their families. Representatives from the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) presented a gold standard, dementia design award to the council for the implementation of dementia design principles throughout the new facility. Knowl Park House is one of only a few social care services across the country to have achieved this accolade.
Dementia Services Development Centre
The DSDC have a highly regarded international reputation, backed by academic research for promoting best practice in designing environments for people living with dementia. They have worked closely with Kirklees Council to ensure that the new day care centre and accompanying Centre for Excellence at Knowl Park House, embed dementia design principles to ensure maximum inclusivity for service users. Attendees at today’s event had the opportunity to tour the new facility and see for themselves how the dementia design principles work in practice.
Councillor Beverley Addy, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health said:
“I am incredibly pleased that we have officially opened Knowl Park House today. This is a key investment in providing a high quality dementia day service for those people who need it the most.
“We have made use of some of the highest standards in design principles to enable service users to be as independent as possible whilst they are here. Each of the zones in the day care centre provide a warm, friendly, and inviting ambience and we have worked hard to ensure the University of Stirling’s dementia design principles were adhered to at every stage of the project. I offer huge congratulations to our teams on achieving gold standard accreditation.
“Knowl Park House will serve as our flagship dementia day service providing respite for carers whilst their loved ones enjoy the amazing spaces in the building. We set out to build a modern, fit for purpose facility that would enable people living with dementia to live well for longer, in their own homes or with their families, and we have done exactly that.”
Professor Lesley Palmer, Professor of Ageing and Dementia Design at the DSDC University of Stirling said:
“Designing for an ageing population, and people living with a diagnosis of a dementia, has never been more important. Incorporating simple, evidence-based, design recommendations can allow individuals living with a diagnosis of dementia to be more independent and can reduce some of the symptoms of a dementia.
“Kirklees Council recognised the significance of our dementia design principles to support their centre users, and they have championed their integration into this wonderful centre, since its inception. The Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) is delighted to have worked with Kirklees Council and their design team on this project, and we recognise the value this new centre brings to the residents of Kirklees for years to come.”
How to access support
Anyone interested in accessing support from Knowl Park House should contact Kirklees Council’s Community Health and Social Care Hub on 0300 304 5555 for a referral.