FOLLOWING requests from passers-by, a care company has expanded its plans for its new base to include a day centre.
Casbrook Home Care is taking over the former Superbook unit in Romsey town centre to open a community hub and health centre.
Calls for daily supervised adult care provision have risen since the closure of Romsey’s last remaining day care scheme at Nightingale Living Well Centre in March.
In response, Casbrook owner David Betteridge has discussed the possibility with Hampshire County Council and hopes to open a day centre at the new hub, in The Hundred, operating one day a week at first.
Mr Betteridge is waiting to hear from the council’s day care commissioners but believes the scheme will be possible regardless, with the aim of launching this autumn.
READ MORE: Romsey Superbook to be replaced by Casbrook Home Care community hub
The Romsey care company owner said: “We have been overwhelmed by older people and their families asking if we can provide a day care service.
“We’re still going to go ahead with everything we planned, the day centre will be an additional service. The hub is for people that are able-bodied, that don’t need direct care while the day care side will be a respite service for carers of adults with all sorts of needs.
“There are loads of elderly people in Romsey and a lot of the services have been taken away but there’s always been a demand for day care.”
The business is in the process of moving from 74 The Hundred to the bigger and more central location of 20a.
Contractors have been busy re-doing the flooring and lighting and installing washable walls to the former bookshop ready for the care service and new community hub to open within the next few weeks.
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To run the day service, Casbrook is looking to employ two more qualified carers.
Manager Jade Trubridge said: “Moving to the new location there is room to introduce a day centre and it’s definitely something we could plough into Romsey.
“It would be really beneficial because Romsey is lacking in day care support and people are crying out for some kind of social aspect.
“We do a service at the minute where we spend some support time with individuals to give their carers a break but this would give people to see some different faces and get outside of their four walls.
“I’m really excited for the new unit to open. It’s what the community needs and will open up different opportunities for the area and help elderly people not to feel trapped or isolated.”
If there is enough demand, the team will extend the day centre for more days, with up to eight people per day to start with.
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