First Minister hails new centre of excellence
for dementia care

First Minister Carwyn Jones hailed "the pioneering model of care" at our new centre of excellence to look after people with dementia.

Mr Jones, who revealed it was a condition that had affected his family too, officially opened the Bodlondeb centre at the Pendine Park care organisation's main site in Summerhill Road, in Wrexham.

Bodlondeb (Place of Contentment) will be the hub for a comprehensive range of services for people with dementia.

After being entertained by a combined choir of residents and staff sing the Welsh national anthem, the First Minister said: "I welcome the development of the Bodlondeb centre, which will offer a new and pioneering model of care. It's a wonderful place. It's an honour to be here.

"What I've seen is a fantastic set-up for people with dementia - it's light, it's airy and it raises the spirits when you come in.

"There are so many things going on here as well - an art class, a photography class. This is the way that people with dementia need to be looked after and stimulated in future.

"First of all, yes, it's great for jobs but secondly it's a top class centre for people with dementia and of course their families. Dementia affects so many families and my own family included.

"It's a good place to come if you're visiting somebody here and it's a place where I think people can come and feel at home in, you can't ask for more than that."

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths said: "The care provided across the whole of the Pendine Park organisation is second to none and Bodlondeb will be another area of care that will be much sought after in Wrexham."

Earlier this year, proprietor Mario Kreft was awarded an MBE for his services to social care in Wales and Pendine Park is celebrating is Silver Jubilee this year.

He said: "Our vision is to provide a world class community based resource for people with various forms of dementia.

"Bodlondeb will provide 24/7 services and they will include respite and day services, linked with our domiciliary care organisation, Pendine Park Independent Living and our in-house Smartcare Teaching Care Centre."

"The official opening is a huge day for Pendine Park and the whole team were thrilled that the First Minister took time out to see our vision of what a sustainable care community can be."