Margaret Ritchie has opened a new £1.3m housing scheme in Lisburn, specially designed for people suffering from dementia.

Catering for those suffering from moderate to severe dementia, people will receive facilities and help which are at the cutting edge of dementia care.

The home offers self contained living around a central communal area designed to maximise sky visibility and daylight.

Wide corridors with low level glazing and contrasting colours have been used to assist recognition and co-ordination for residents.

Enhanced signage, multiple cues and increased lighting levels have also been utilised so residents are able to make sense of their environment.

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Ms Ritchie, Minister for Social Development, welcomed the home as "much needed boost" for people suffering from dementia.

"I am very impressed by the new accommodation and support provided. It really is state of the art, pushing the boundaries in meeting the needs of people with dementia," she said.

"Trinity Housing, Health Professionals, the Housing Executive and Praxis Care are to be congratulated on coming up with such a pioneering design and care package that is a winner, in every sense of the word, for some of our most vulnerable citizens."

The building, at St Paul's Court on the Ballinderry Road, was designed in consultation with the Dementia Services Development Centre based at the University of Stirling.

"I want to ensure that everybody has a home that is suited to their own specific needs," said Ms Ritchie.

"I am committed, through the Social Housing Development Programme, to deliver record numbers of social housing and that includes more high quality, innovative supported housing schemes such as we have seen here."

(PR/JM)