A NEWLY refurbished £1.5 million wing at a Prestwich nursing and residential home saw its grand opening today.

The state-of-the-art Beach House unit at The Fed and Heathlands Village was unveiled at a ceremony — with the Mayor of Bury and Prestwich councillor, Cllr Jane Black, cutting the ribbon.

Specially designed to cater for residents with dementia, the unit has a seaside theme inside and out to help evoke strong memories associated with childhood, holidays and family experiences, to catalyse conversation and reminiscences among residents.

The colourful unit can house 20 residents in individual bedrooms, each with their own uniquely painted front door, large door number and a memory box.

Also among the dementia friendly features are plain walls, flooring and fabrics to help reduce falls and keep residents walking unaided, and purposely designed lighting to cater to resident's body clocks.

Along the Beach House's corridor's are separate refuge areas, complete with comfy chairs and tactile and stimulating items, such as musical instruments; and a kitchen diner.

The is also a coastal-themed bathroom boasting a tilting bath with mood lights and jacuzzi bubbles to help people in and out, support posture, massage and make the bath more relaxing.

The renovated unit join's The Fed's award winning Seaside Garden — which includes a pier, beach huts and sailing boats surrounded by speakers made to look like rocks, which play thousands of individual sounds of the seaside.

Speaking at the opening The Fed's CEO, Mark Cunningham, said: "This is eight years of hard work, it's fantastic. It means better care and a better place to live for the most vulnerable people in our community."

He added that The Fed is "creating a community hub, where people can continue to live life to the full. A happy place where people feel safe, fulfilled and loved. This is a very special care home."

The Fed, or Federation of Jewish Services, was created in 2009 from two of Manchester's oldest Jewish charities, dating back to the 19th century.

It currently has around 150 residents at its Heathlands Village sites as well as employing hundreds of staff and volunteers, and is one of the Mayor's two nominated charities alongside Grace's Place children's hospice.