Abbeyfield Society has broken ground on a new building in Winnersh in the U.K. designed with a “residents first” approach. Its plans include a wide range of highly innovative communal facilities, including a cinema, activity rooms for painting and sewing, a restaurant and cafe, sensory rooms and wellbeing areas including spa, a library, and a shop stocked with groceries.

The plans for the outside areas include gardens focused on stimulating memory through the smell or feel of plants and flowers. Furthermore, planned allotment space will offer residents the opportunity to “grow their own”.

Memorabilia and reminiscence will be a strong focus across the development. There will be classic cars and bikes in the grounds and a vintage theme prominent throughout the interior decor.

John Robinson, Chairman of the Abbeyfield Society, said: “We are looking to create a stimulating and exciting environment for our residents, allowing them to go where they want to go, and to live how they want to live. We didn’t feel we could fully achieve this vision without creating a building of this calibre, and we expect it to be a blueprint for the future of Abbeyfield care homes.”

Click here to learn more about Abbeyfield Society and this exciting new project.