Legion Care Home opens new Day Care Centre, complete with 1940's Reminiscence Therapy room

Legion Care Home opens new Day Care Centre, complete with 1940's Reminiscence Therapy room Staff, residents and supporters of Halsey House, the Royal British Legion Care Home in Cromer, Norfolk, will get together on Tuesday 30th April to celebrate the opening of the Home's new Day Care Centre. Halsey House is one of the Legion's seven residential and nursing Homes for ex- Service people and their dependants. The £200,000 needed to build and equip the Centre was raised by the Ipswich and St James' Branches of the Legion. The new Day Care Centre broadens the Homes' facilities by offering 50 places each week to elderly and disabled ex-Service people living in the region. Facilities include a hairdressing salon, crafts sessions, special EXTEND aerobics classes and even a Reminiscence Therapy room, decorated and furnished in an authentic 1940s style, which will help residents with memory problems brought on by old age to communicate in familiar surroundings. Centre users will also have access to a newly appointed day care co-ordinator, as well as an occupational therapist, physiotherapist and activities co-ordinator. For those who prefer to take it easy, there is a greenhouse for a little gentle gardening and visitors can chat to friends over lunch or a drink in the licensed bar. The 69 residents currently living in Halsey House will also be able to benefit from the new facilities -and from socialising with day care visitors. "The new Day Care Centre is great news for the entire local ex-Service community," says Matron and Manager of Halsey House, Ruth Walker. "Elderly and disabled people can use the facilities in any way they like, from popping in for a bath or haircut to trying their hand at some painting or simply getting out and meeting people in a safe, supported environment. Our residents are also looking forward to having plenty of 'new faces' around - and the chance to make new friends. "The Centre is also equally important for the people who care for our visitors," adds Walker. "It will enable them to have some time each week when they can go shopping, keep appointments and simply have a break from the demanding role of caring for someone. Halsey has always felt very much part of the local community and these new facilities will definitely reinforce the Home's important role in the region." ENDS Further media information from Georgia Veats The Royal British Legion press office, 020 7973 7237, mobile 07971 142022, e-mail gveats@britishlegion.org.uk Notes to Editors: The Royal British Legion is Britain's leading ex-Service charity protecting the welfare, interests and memory of ex-Service people and their families and dependants since 1921. Some 15 million people - of all ages - are eligible to approach the Legion for support, ranging from resettlement and war pensions advice to benevolence grants. Issued by: The Press Office, The Royal British Legion, 48 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY Tel: 0207 973 7265/7296/7292 Fax: 0207 973 7239 ISDN Broadcast studio: 0207 321 0476 (By prior arrangement) Internet: www.britishlegion.org.uk Legion Releases can also be downloaded from http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about5.cfm ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/22/20020422BIT01090/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/22/20020422BIT01090/wkr0002.pdf