The FED recently celebrated the opening of its newly refurbished buildings.
Residents, relatives, staff and volunteers congregated in the lounge area of Heathlands Village to mark the opening of the refurbished communal areas of The FED’s Prestwich care home.
Karen Phillips, CEO of The FED, explained: “It was key to celebrate our wonderful new facilities with residents and relatives first – after all it is they who had the most say in how they wanted to see the site redeveloped and they who will benefit foremost from the changes we have made.”
The revamp encompasses bright open spaces, a tree-lined atrium and shop area, a medical suite, and a Betty Blue hair and nail bar which is a far cry from the traditional image of older people’s care.
During the event, resident Peggy Braunstein was helped by daughter Sharon Shneck, a member of the Relatives’ Forum, to publicly mark the occasion by cutting the ribbon, while Olive Lawton and Evelyn Epsley, who also celebrated her birthday on the day of the launch, assumed the roles of official ‘end-holders’.
The festivities were enhanced by the playing of the Carlton Ensemble who performed an array of classical, popular and Jewish arrangements, and in the Joy Cainer Activity Centre alternate entertainment was provided by Ian and Irving with a well-attended sing-along.
Karen added: “There is still work to be done to refurbish smaller lounge areas and our ground floor residential areas but we have already come a very long way and the feedback has been wonderful.
“The launch signifies a new beginning, building on the work and commitment of generations of people in the community, some of whom now live at Heathlands – it is so good that we can now care for them in the way they cared for others over the years.”