INDEPENDENCE for older people in the Tavistock area takes a step further today (Thursday) with the official opening of a brand new centre at Harewood House to bridge the gap between hospital and home care.

The £50,000 unit provides the 100th reablement bed in Devon and offers the latest care and facilities to prolong the independence of older people.

The unit has been created by adapting part of the existing residential home to provide six bedrooms, a sitting room, fully-equipped kitchen and dining room, an office, meeting room and laundry room for use of clients.

The bathroom has been specially designed for use by disabled people, with walk-in showers and toilets.

Maggie Hogarth, unit manager, said reaction to the new centre was 'very positive'.

Since the first client arrived in June, 12 people have been referred to the unit and four have already been able to return to their own homes to live independently.

People aged 55 and over are eligible for referral — they may have had strokes, joint replacements or be in the early stages of dementia.

Miss Hogarth said: 'It might be anyone who isn't coping at home, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it's just not taking their medications, but people do have to be medically fit, they have to have the potential for improvement and they must be willing to come here.'

Once clients arrive at the reablement unit, they are assessed and a plan is drawn up for them. On hand to help are occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language experts, dietitians and other care staff.

Miss Hogarth said: 'We support the client right through their programme. The maximum stay is six weeks, but some people have left after two weeks. They're making amazing progress.

'We've done a questionnaire and we've had a really positive response — they've said things like the staff are very supportive, it's not like a hospital, it's nice and domestic.'

District nurses and GPs also give constant support at Harewood and there is a very high ratio of staff to clients.

'We want to run a seamless service at the end of the day.

'It's all about joint working between health and social services. It's the way forward — we pool our resources and knowledge and work together for what's best for the patient,' said Miss Hogarth, who praised the 'major steps forward' at Harewood.

The home was opened in 1961 to replace the last of Tavistock's three workhouses — even then it was held up as an example to others.

Harewood now offers a day centre, residential home, a respite care facility and the new reablement unit.

Tavistock county councillor Roy Cook said: 'For older residents of Tavistock and the surrounding area Harewood has been at the hub of care in the community for many years.

'I am very pleased the new reablement unit will move the services at Harewood into the 21st century by providing a vital bridge between hospital and home care.'

Cllr Mervyn Lane, the county's executive chairman of social affairs and health, said: 'We are very proud to have reached this milestone in the modernisation of care services for our elderly residents.'