A new £1 million community facility that will help support older people who have dementia to live active and valued lives has opened in Perth.
The New Rannoch Day Centre in Shuna Court, which replaces the former Rannoch Road Day Centre, will provide a flexible and modern space for people to enjoy community activities.
The facility and its community focus will provide opportunities for older people with dementia, and their carers, to try new activities, learn new skills and socialise. This will keep clients actively involved in the community while, at the same time, improving the access local people have to community facilities and spaces.
Activities available at the centre will include arts and crafts, bingo, domino clubs, coffee mornings, tea dances, bowling and gardening groups.
Members of the local community will have opportunities to volunteer by contributing to garden maintenance or by supporting activities both in the centre and outwith.
Developing a community garden is a key part of this vision. In return, people in the local community will have the use of areas of the garden to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers for their own use.
Members of the community who volunteer may also “time bank” their support and use this to access the facilities outside normal opening hours for their own community functions and events.
The centre will also be used for various activities by a number of the council’s partner agencies, including MEAD, Alzheimer Scotland and NHS Tayside.
The name New Rannoch was chosen by clients from the former Rannoch Road Day Centre and the centre was opened officially by housing and health convener Dave Doogan.
He said: “I am delighted that the New Rannoch Day Centre is now open and can begin providing quality services for older people and their carers.
“The former day centre at Rannoch Road was outdated. This new space is designed purposely for the kind of activities that will take place here and for the services that will be provided for older people. It really is an excellent building with an extensive outdoor space that will be a valuable resource.
“What is even more special about this new centre is that the clients, carers and staff of New Rannoch have a vision that the traditional, often negative, image of day care can be dispelled by making New Rannoch a meaningful and integral part of the local community.
“This will be achieved by developing the centre and garden to become a central part of the local community and by connecting people with dementia, along with their carers, to local groups and activities.
“For example, the facilities will enable the day centre to host community events, such as regular coffee mornings, bingo and domino clubs, gardening clubs, bowling groups, annual barbecues and other seasonal events, while at the same time affording the local community a resource for their own activities.
“I am sure clients, their carers, members of the local community and staff will enjoy many, many happy years here at this new facility.
“Our investment in New Rannoch Day Centre underlines the council’s commitment to providing high quality services for our communities, and to ensuring that older people can live valued and independent lives in their communities.”