First Look at £3.5m Balmoral House

News release

22nd August 2012

A new £3.5 million care home in Scunthorpe has opened its doors after a year-long build.

Balmoral House, owned by family-run firm Kapil Care Homes, has welcomed its first residents in the last few weeks, with more expected in the coming months. People have also been coming to the home, based on Old Brumby Street, for respite and day care.

Managing Director Sunil Kapil said care staff, ancillary staff, a head chef, an activities

co-ordinator and administrative staff are already in place, and further staff will be taken on as more people begin to live there. Construction work was carried out by Scunthorpe firm G S Kelsey Ltd, which also appointed C R Parrot to do the design side of the project.

Sunil said: “We thought very hard about the design of Balmoral House to try to make it a great environment suited to the people who will be living here. Together with the building designers, Jon Bayley at C R Parrott and experienced building contractors G S Kelsey Ltd we came up with what we think is a great place to live. Important design features include, spacious bedrooms each with en-suite toilet and shower facilities, a choice of sitting areas, dining areas and a circular route for residents to walk around safely and a beautiful enclosed central garden. People are looking for somewhere to live that suits their needs and will be a great place to live.

“We’re thrilled with the results. It’s great to be at this stage because for us it’s been a long time planning, from a blank sheet of paper to the final product. We would like to thank Geoff Kelsey and his team for all that they have done to turn our plans into a reality. The proof of the pudding will be when people make the choice to come and live here and tell us they like it. We’ve had really positive feedback from everyone who has visited or stayed here so far.”

The home has 60 en-suite bedrooms, several social areas with televisions and comfortable reading chairs, a cinema room, private alcoves for reading or chatting dotted throughout and enclosed gardens.

There’s also a hair salon and a coffee stop where residents and visitors can help themselves to drinks and snacks. The building also boasts green credentials such as a sedum roof to encourage bird and insect life, a ‘grasscrete’ car park to allow water to drain through it and air-source heat pumps for the heating system.

The interior design has been done by Hill and Hill, a family firm of interior designers specialising in the healthcare sector. Hill and Hill sourced the furnishings and fittings and have created a fantastic look and feel to Balmoral House, which is bright and fresh and at the same time homely and welcoming. Art work has been carefully chosen to complement this style.

“We liked the fact that they were a family business and we felt they would be able to provide the design flair personalised service we were looking for,” Sunil added.

People living full-time at the home or using it on a day-by-day basis or for respite care enjoy home-cooked meals by in-house chef Gemma Allison.

“The emphasis here is on fresh produce sourced from local providers,” said Gemma, who has worked for Kapil Care Homes for six years. “The importance of good food cannot be underestimated and I want to be sure everything looks and tastes as good as possible. It’s also important to use fresh ingredients which are full of nutrients and taste great.”

Manager Kirsty Sutton has been involved in the project since the start and has been officially managing Balmoral House, overseeing the final touches and employing new staff, since May.

“We’re pleased that we’re ahead of our expectations with the number of people who have into Balmoral House,” she said. “I am sure this will prove to be very place for people to live and enjoy their later years.”

The new home is the third to be operated by Kapil Care Homes, which also owns and runs Ascot House and Carisbrooke Manor in the town. Matthew Robinson, one of the Directors at G S Kelsey, said it was good to see Kapil Care Homes using a local firm. “I’ve been involved throughout the project and I am really impressed with the final product.,” said Matthew. “It’s very good that the contract was given to a local firm and it also means that we are in the position to provide aftercare much more readily. The quality of the work is exemplary.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the home can call 01724 854836 or email balmoral@kapilcare.co.uk

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Building work on Balmoral House began in summer 2011.
• The name Balmoral House was chosen by Kapil Care Homes resident Ronald Milson after the group asked for people to come up with ideas.
• Dr G P Kapil BSc MBBS and his wife Pam Kapil SRN founded Kapil Care Homes in 1983 when they opened Grafton House in Scunthorpe.
• Kapil Care Homes currently operates Ascot House on Oswald Road and Carisbrooke Manor on Burringham Road, both in Scunthorpe.

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @cerridelaney

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