TV personality Angela Rippon was the star attraction as Lexicon Healthcare launched its new flagship care home in Exeter.
More than 80 people gathered to celebrate the launch of Green Tree Court and hear Angela's experiences as a broadcaster, journalist, presenter and ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society.
The £7.5 million home in Harrington Lane, between Whipton and Pinhoe, features 68 large en-suite rooms and five-star facilities. It has been specially designed to be user friendly for people with dementia.
Facilities include a café, hairdressers, holistic therapy suite, cinema room, library and landscaped gardens.
Angela said: "I was delighted to be back in the Westcountry to launch Green Tree Court.
"Dementia is the curse of the 21st century. We are an ageing population and it will touch us all. As an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society I know first-hand what it is like to be affected by this cruel condition.
"It is extremely pleasing to be here and witness the first class facilities and philosophy of care at the home, which will make such a huge difference to the residents' quality of care and life."
Green Tree Court's head chef Owen Isaacs and his team showcased the home's gourmet menu at the launch with an array of canapés.
Lexicon Healthcare's CEO Stephen Pattrick said: "We were delighted to welcome Angela Rippon OBE to launch our new flagship home in Exeter.
"As an ambassador of the Alzheimer's Society and with first-hand experience of the disease, she has worked tirelessly to champion the rights of people with dementia and improve their quality of life."
Lexicon Healthcare's managing director Michelle Pattrick added: "Our vision in creating this beautiful home was to provide a luxury lifestyle but also equally importantly to deliver the very best clinical care and support.
"As managing director but also as a nurse, this is something I care passionately about. The heads of department and myself have over 140 years of nursing experience between us and we are committed to delivering residential, nursing and dementia care that is not only highly personalised, but focuses on the capabilities of the individual, not their limitations.
"A huge amount of time and effort has gone into ensuring that Green Tree Court will improve the quality of life and wellbeing of our clients.
"We are all very proud of what has been achieved, but more importantly the huge difference it will make to our resident's quality of life in the future."
The dementia care wing is working to attain the internationally recognised Stirling Gold Standard for dementia friendly design, which it is believed will make it a first in the Westcountry. The University of Stirling champions the importance of design in creating spaces so that they actively support and enable people with dementia. People with dementia experience impaired memory, learning and reasoning and therefore become more reliant on their senses.
