State-of-the-art care home to open its doors
Bedford Court, an innovative, purpose-built care complex for older people, is to open in Horsforth on 12 January 2004. It is named after the late Olive Bedford whose legacy provided the majority of funds for its development.
The home, which seeks to set new standards for accommodation for older people with care and support needs, has been built by the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT), who will also manage it.
Olive Bedford, who died in 1997, decided to make the JRHT the main beneficiary of her will after being very impressed with what she saw on a visit to one of the Trust’s care homes. Two friends, Madeline Phillips and her sister Isabel, left smaller legacies for the same purpose. The JRHT, also responsible for Hartrigg Oaks, the UK’s first Continuing Care Retirement Community on the edge of York, is an experienced provider of housing and care for older people.
Bedford Court makes use of the latest thinking on care home design. There are six different room sizes, all of which have en-suite bathrooms, helping residents to recreate the atmosphere of their previous home whilst ensuring that their care needs are met.
The main care centre, Olive Lodge, comprises 34 single rooms and four apartments. For residents who do not need the full services of a care home, there are also ten two-bedroomed bungalows in Phillips Close, each with a call system linked to Olive Lodge.
The communal facilities have been designed to maximise natural light and give the residents views of the surrounding countryside, Horsforth village and the landscaped courtyard. There is a conservatory, roof terrace, lounge, large dining room and activity room, as well as a number of pantries where residents can make their own snacks and refreshments.
Care and support, provided 24 hours a day, will be customised to the needs of each individual resident. To ensure the highest levels of care and support, all care staff are appropriately trained, either holding or working towards nationally recognised NVQ qualifications. The JRHT are keen to take on more local people for careers as carers.
John Kennedy, Deputy Director of Care Services, said: “We are all very excited about this facility and particularly pleased to be extending our operations to Leeds. We aim to provide the highest standards of care and support on a flexible basis to meet the individual needs of residents within a caring community.”
He added: “The design of Olive Lodge is particularly impressive. It has been built to incorporate a number of innovative features suggested by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s own research on care home design, and lessons we have learned from the design of Hartrigg Oaks in York.”
Margaret Rhodes, manager of Bedford Court, said: “Residents at Bedford Court will receive the very best care, adapted to their own individual needs and wishes, by highly trained staff. They will have an important role in decision making in the running of the home.”
