Work has started on a £7 million centre of excellence for people with dementia that will create 100 new jobs in Caernarfon.
The news was welcomed by Lord Dafydd Wigley who visited the site on the outskirts of the town where the former community hospital, Ysbyty Bryn Seiont, has been demolished to make way for the flagship development.
Construction is now under way and, if everything goes to plan, the centre will open in September 2015.
The bilingual centre and 16 extra care apartments to enable people to stay independent are being built by the award-winning care organisation Pendine Park that’s owned by Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill.
They say the process of recruiting senior staff will start soon.
The couple already run seven 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, and was awarded an MBE for his contribution to social care in Wales.
Pendine Park already employs nearly 600 people in North East Wales.
The plans for Canolfan Dementia Bryn Seiont are based on a similar centre, called Bodlondeb, in Wrexham which was opened by First Minister Carwyn Jones in 2010.
Bodlondeb was named as the best new dementia care facility in Britain at the UK Over 50s Housing Awards.
Following a tour of the site, Lord Wigley said: “I’m absolutely delighted that there is a positive use of the old Bryn Seiont hospital site within the same sector meeting an undoubted need in the area and with that it’s going to provide 100 jobs. Every job is needed in this area.
“These days there is pressure because of the demographic factors. We’re an elderly population and there’s more and more need for support and very often there’s less and less resource available.
“We have a tradition in this area of caring in the health and social sector so I hope very much that local people will seize the opportunities here and that this project will be successful. I’m sure it will.
“I’ve known Mario for many years. He’s been a campaigner as well as a provider and it’s important that should be the case, that people who know what the challenges are at the sharp end in providing services are giving their input into the public domain so that when policy is developed in Wales, the proper balance can be struck and that we take advantage of skills and talents brought by Mario onto the table.”
Mr Kreft was delighted that Lord Wigley had taken the time and trouble to visit the site to be updated on progress.
He said: “We are very grateful for all the support we have received from local people and from key figures like Lord Wigley, the local MP Hywel Williams and the AM Alun Ffred Jones.
“We’re very excited to have this opportunity to provide vitally important services for the people of Gwynedd at a fully bilingual dementia centre – being able to speak in your first language is always important but especially so for people who have dementia.
“The centre of excellence will be the hub other services including respite care, day care, memory clinics and outreach services supporting people in their own homes.
“This will be something very new. It’s not really been tried in Wales in the way that we intend enhance people’s lives in the community using the dementia centre for all of the practical support needs they have.
“We will be providing person centred, relationship centred care in small units.
“What we want to do also ensure that the staff here will be recruited locally. It will be a fully bilingual care centre and we see that as being absolutely essential but they will be some of the most highly trained people in Wales who will be given support and development on a scale rarely seen.
“Another important aspect is our enrichment programme using the arts to give people that quality of life, those little things that matter so much and utilising innovation particularly within the arts.
“As an example we wish to extend our relationship that we have with the Welsh National Opera and indeed the renowned Hallé orchestra. We have already had discussions about working with Bangor University and Galeri in Caernarfon.
“We’ll soon be recruiting senior staff and as the project continues it’s going to be an opportunity to fulfil what we’ve promised which is to create 100 sustainable jobs in this area.
“We’re not here to replace services. We’re here to work with the community, work with social care and health care professionals and very much to bring what we consider the Pendine Park approach to dementia care in a fully bilingual way to Gwynedd.”
