Leading Politician and Deputy Mayor join Residents at Hamilton Court Care Home for a 'Great Sunday Lunch'

Local dignitaries joined residents and staff at the newly launched Hamilton Court Care Home in Armagh, to tuck in to a ‘Great Sunday Lunch' in aid of a leading Northern Ireland charity and celebrate the introduction of new specialist dementia care services at the home.

Samuel Gardiner MBE, a member of the Northern Ireland Health Committee and Deputy Mayor of Armagh City, Gareth Wilson, attended the lunch at the home on Hamiltonsbrawn Road, along with over 50 residents, family and friends.

The ‘Great Sunday Lunch' took place in honour of the official unveiling of the care home's new name ‘Hamilton Court' and newly enhanced care services, which include the introduction of specialist residential dementia care provision.

The care home has been re-launched to offer residential dementia care in line with latest guidance on best practice and in recognition of a growing demand and need for specialist services of this kind in the Armagh area.

Hamilton Court is now working towards becoming accredited under the innovative Four Seasons' PEARL initiative. The comprehensive assessment process measures care homes against set standards and criteria, to highlight those homes who offer outstanding dementia care provision.

Guests gathered to celebrate the event while helping raise money and awareness for Age Concern Help the Aged NI, the newly formed charity for older people in Northern Ireland.

All monies raised at the lunch are to go towards funding a range of services operated by the charity, which include a free advice service, specialist support for older people with dementia and a HandyVan, which helps improve home safety and security for older people.

Before tucking in to a delicious home cooked roast dinner, Mr Gardiner addressed guests and praised the catering team for their hard work, while thanking the home for its hospitality.

Rosemary Spiers, Hamilton Care Home manager, said: "We were delighted to welcome Samuel Gardiner and Deputy Mayor Gareth Wilson along to the home, to meet the residents and enjoy a hearty Sunday lunch. It was a great way to mark the introduction of our new residential dementia care services, with the local community in attendance.

"The dementia care we offer is unique for a care home in this area and with an aging population, the need for specialist care of this type is only likely to increase.

"We have supported Age Concern Help the Aged NI for some time now and the Great Sunday Lunch is a fantastic way to raise awareness. All older people should be included as valued members of the community and getting together over a good meal is the perfect way to celebrate life at every age."

AN AGING POPULATION*
• The UK's over-75 population is projected to double in the next 30 years
• Nearly half of all older people in the UK aged 65 and over consider the
• television as their main form of company
• Some 600,000 older people in the UK leave their house once a week
• or less
• Over 1.1 million older people in the UK feel trapped in their own home
• 24 per cent of older people in the UK have reported that their quality of life has got worse over the last year

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