Colonel Bolitho, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, has officially opened a new 15-bed household called Harmony Lane at Cornwall Care’s Cedar Grange home in Launceston.

The new facility specialises in looking after people with advanced, often complex dementia and represents a major step forward in state-of-the-art dementia provision in Cornwall.

Thanks to a partnership with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT), specially-trained Cedar Grange staff work shifts in the hospital to get to know a new resident before they move to their new home. Hospital staff will also spend time working at Cedar Grange.

“It’s important for people coming here to feel happy and relaxed,” said Philip Rees, chair of trustees. “Previously it’s been necessary to travel out of county to get the level of care we now offer here – something that has often meant long trips for family and friends wanting to spend as much time as possible with loved ones.

“This is the first redevelopment project Cornwall Care has undertaken to modernise and upgrade its 16 homes in response to growing need. We believe we are setting standards that people living in Cornwall should expect from social care provision and are committed to a rolling programme of continued improvement and development across our estate.”

Cornwall Care CEO Anne Thomas was one of those giving guided tours at the opening.

“We were delighted to welcome the Lord Lieutenant and other VIP guests from across the county,” she said. “The high standard of specialist care offered at Harmony Lane is second to none and we are already getting some excellent feedback on the difference it is making to the residents living there.”