'Admirable' dementia day centre opens in Hornsey (From Haringey Independent)

'Admirable' dementia day centre opens in Hornsey

3:01pm Friday 26th February 2010 in News By Elizabeth Pears

A DAY centre caring for Haringey residents diagnosed with dementia was officially opened today.

The Haynes Centre, housed in Hornsey's Neighbourhood Health Centre, in Park Road, gives support and treatment to patients and their carers.

It is a joint development between NHS Haringey, the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and Haringey Council who will run the centre.

And it was partially funded through a generous donation from the Lewis and Mary Haynes Trust - a charity that cares for elderly people with disabilities in Muswell, Highgate and Hornsey.

Patients will be able to take advantage of tailor-made care and support inlcuding reminiscence therapy, validation, life story work, music therapy, art therapy, dance, singing and exercise.

And the centre also boasts activity areas, a music room, treatment facilities and a sensory garden.

NHS Haringey Deputy chief executive, Julie Quinn, said: "This is great news for the older and more vulnerable members of our community and will really make a difference to their lives.

"The new health centre provides an excellent standard of care in a safe and secure environment to support people living with dementia to maintain everyday skills for as long as possible."

The centre currently has facilities 15 patients but has the capacity to extend this to 30 places per day as demand increases over the years.

Councillor Dilek Dogus, cabinet member for adult social care and wellbeing, said: "It is one of the most up-to-date centres of its kind in London and is part of our ongoing investment in services to help frail and vulnerable people in Haringey.

"We have worked closely with other organisations when planning and building the centre so a seamless service can be offered for people with dementia."

David Cole-Adams, chairman of the Lewis and Mary Haynes Trust, said: "The trustees are delighted that the aims of Lewis and Mary Haynes have been so admirably met in this new centre.

"We were inspired to contribute to the project following a visit to the Grange Centre in Tottenham and have been pleased to support it through all the challenges in its development over the years, including its planning, the management of the project as well as the design and layout of the centre.

"We look forward to its becoming a real centre of excellence in the care of those who suffer from dementia."

The Admiral Nurse Service, the Alzheimer's Society, Age Concern, NHS Haringey and the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust will also be able to work on site to better support users and carers.

Dementia is a syndrome that normally affects those over 65 and symptoms include a loss of memory, judgement and, even, language.

People with dementia may also struggle to control their emotions caused by damage to the structure of the brain.