Manor expands to meet demand

NEW ROOM: From left in one of the new rooms: Viv Richardson, general manager, owners Robin and Elizabeth Dunlop, Irene McQueen, quality manager, and Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson. PHOTOS/LYNDA FERINGA

Lyndale Manor in Masterton now has eight more rooms for people with dementia.

Owners Robin and Elizabeth Dunlop have refurbished and expanded the specialist dementia facility from 12 beds to 20, because of demand.

It cost $400,000 to carry out the project on the Daniell Wing, said Mr Dunlop.

He said the rooms had to be designed quite differently to a normal resthome room.

Manager Viv Richardson said there was a real need in the community for the facility.

"Dementia is getting more prevalent."

It is also affecting more and more younger people - one resident is in his sixties, she said.

Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson officially opened the new development on Thursday, cutting the ribbon and congratulating staff.

"It's a great facility, it's their home away from home."

Lyndale staff, councillors and other health-care workers from Wairarapa attended the opening ceremony.

Mr and Mrs Dunlop purchased the old Glenwood Hospital building in 2011 and turned it into Lyndale Manor.

The wing is named after Trevor Hamilton Daniell, the architect who designed it.