The Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson MP, officially opened the £45 million Buckshaw Retirement Village on Wednesday April 8.
Within the retirement village, Mr Johnson met staff, residents and their families of The Lodge dementia care centre and The Grange assisted living facility. The Grange offers a real alternative for people who need assistance but don’t want to move into a traditional care home.
The village’s third distinct community is The Court, which is for residents who are active and independent but like the idea of home ownership in a village community.
Developed by Oakbridge Retirement Villages, Buckshaw Retirement Village is the forerunner of what will be a number of villages to be built by Oakbridge throughout the UK.
Oakbridge Chief Executive Andrew Stow said: “We are delighted that Mr Johnson performed the official opening ceremony at Buckshaw. The village is all about providing people with lifestyle choices – they have the option to live independently, to have assistance available when required or, for those with dementia, to live in the most advanced care facility in Europe.”
“There is also now the opportunity for people to benefit from the assisted living facilities at the village through accessing the Government’s new personal care budgets, which provide them with a choice and a say in how their housing and care needs are met,” he added.
“Buckshaw Retirement Village is a major investment for Oakbridge and we are proud of what we have created. We believe we have raised the bar in terms of setting new standards in retirement living.”