The plans for a “world class” centre in Gwynedd to care for people with dementia are being shown to the public for the first time.
The award-winning Pendine Park care organisation is holding a drop-in session for members of the public between 1.30pm and 4pm on Wednesday, November 16, at the Galeri, in Caernarfon.
The aim is to showcase the £5 million proposal to build the new centre on the site of the former community hospital, Ysbyty Bryn Seiont, on the outskirts of the town, where more than 100 new jobs would be created.
Pendine Park is working closely with one of the UK’s leading dementia experts, Professor Bob Woods, from Bangor University, and the Alzheimer’s Society.
As a result, the provision of Welsh language services will be a priority.
The organisation has submitted a planning application to Gwynedd Council and earlier in the day they will be outlining their vision to provide community based dementia services when they brief an invited audience of local councillors and other stakeholders.
With so many people living longer these days, dementia in its various forms is a growing problem. It can also afflict a surprising number of younger people.
There are 700,000 people living with dementia in the UK today, a number that’s forecast to double within a generation.
The Alzheimer’s Society call it the “dementia timebomb” with an expected 70 per cent rise in the number of cases by 2030.
Earlier this week the Alzheimer’s Society revealed that almost 9,000 dementia sufferers in North Wales are yet to be formally diagnosed.
They estimate that 71 per cent of North Wales people who have the condition are currently undiagnosed there will be a rise over the next 10 years to more than10,800.
The scheme at the five-acre Bryn Seiont site is the brainchild of Mario Kreft, the proprietor of Pendine Park, and his wife, Gill.
The couple run six care homes, a domiciliary care company and a teaching care centre in the Wrexham area and Mr Kreft is a leading figure in the UK care sector.
He is the Chair of Care Forum Wales, the main representative body for the care sector in Wales.
Pendine Park already employs 500 people in North East Wales.
The model for Canolfan Gofal Bryn Seiont (Bryn Seiont Care Centre) was completed in Wrexham last year and was officially opened by First Minister Carwyn Jones.
There, the new Bodlondeb unit is divided into eight small, family-like units so that the residents receive individual care and attention while benefiting from the back-up of a larger organisation.
Mr Kreft said: “We have formulated our plans for Canolfan Gofal Bryn Seiont based on our extensive consultations with the local authority, social services and the Local Health Board.
“The aim of Canolfan Gofal Bryn Seiont is to provide dementia care service that responds to local needs, particularly for people with more complex and nursing needs.
“If the planning application is given approval, we will be creating more than 100 new jobs in Caernarfon and providing a world class community based resource for people with dementia.
“The centre of excellence will provide a range of 24/7 services currently not available in the area, and they will include respite and day services with the new centre of excellence being the hub.
“But they will also be closely linked with our Teaching Care Centre which is going to ensure that our staff have the highest possible standard of training and personal development.
“We are very excited about what we are hoping to achieve and would be delighted to have the opportunity to explain our plans in more detail to the people of Caernarfon.”
The Krefts, who celebrated the 25th anniversary of Pendine Park last year, entered the care sector when they were unable to find suitable residential care for their elderly grandparents.
Mrs Kreft said: “I think it’s fair to say that when you’ve had a personal situation or experience, you see things in a different light.
“We started out by trying to work out how we would want our grandparents looked after. We are passionate about giving people the best possible care in a home environment.”
“We see Canolfan Gofal Bryn Seiont as a really exciting opportunity to provide some new, innovative services and to work closely with the statutory authorities to make sure that those services meet the needs and the likely future needs of the people of Gwynedd.”
