New dementia care home with community benefits for Dorset

Expected to be completed by early 2015, a £6.8m Waypoints dementia care home is being built in Upton, near Poole, Dorset.

Situated in the centre of Upton village and built on the site of a former public house, the 64-bed care home will provide specialist dementia nursing care and respite breaks.

As is customary with all Waypoints homes, it will have a social hub where residents can participate in gardening if they wish, or visit their own hairdressing salon, bistro restaurant and traditional sweet shop, and also enjoy local facilities such as a Rowlands Pharmacy and a Costa Coffee shop.

Waypoints managing director Andrew Baxendine said: “Waypoints Upton will be different from our homes at Verwood and Plymouth with some of the facilities – the pharmacy, coffee shop and vegetable garden – being available for members of the wider community to use, as well as our residents and their families.

“Gardening and enjoyment of outdoor space has therapeutic benefits for our care home residents and we hope that local school children will be able to take part in activities with them in the vegetable garden.

“Collectively these features reflect our commitment to the integration of Waypoints residents within the Upton community to raise awareness and improve understanding of a health condition touching many lives.”

In the course of the development, Waypoints Care Group worked closely with the local town council to identify community benefits, which can be achieved as part of this redevelopment. Benefits include public noticeboards, seating, a focal tree and lighting.

Chairman of Lytchett Minster and Upton Town Council June Richards added: “It really is pleasing to see this once dilapidated central town eye sore being rejuvenated. I am really impressed with the thought that has gone into making this development work not only for future care home residents, but also for the wider community.”