Local Care Service Gets a Boost

10.06.32pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 17th Sep 2004

A new £80,000 extension to the Kitchener Day Service in Olney provides state-of-the-art day care for older people.

The Kitchener Day Centre provides support from Monday to Friday for 15-16 older people per day from Olney and the surrounding area.

The building is owned by Milton Keynes Council, but operated by Age Concern, for older people with both physical frailty and mental health needs, from Olney and the surrounding area.

The extension was opened by Liberal Democrat Cllr Irene Henderson, the Cabinet member whose responsibilities include social care. She said: "Originally, the day centre only had one main function room for service users, which had to double up both as the main lounge area and dining/activities area. This meant having to use foldaway tables and chairs for lunches and group activities - not always comfortable for frail elderly people - as well as being heavy for staff and carers to move around, and cumbersome to store."

The £80,000 planning gain, secured by Olney Town Council, has paid for the extension for use as a separate dining/activities area. This means that people have much more space for activities and more comfortable furniture. Extra money has been spent to upgrade the bathroom and toilet.

Cllr Henderson added: "We are thrilled with this new extension, which will help improve the already excellent services run at the Kitchener Centre for some of the more vulnerable members of our society.

"This is a very best example of partnerships involving the council, our friends at Age Concern, Olney Town Council, local businesses and residents."