THE Okehampton area will receive a major jobs boost on Monday with the opening of a new £7-million state of the art care village at Hatherleigh.
It will provide more than 80 jobs in the area, offering employment to nurses, care assistants, domestic workers and activities co-ordinators.
The complex, Hatherleigh Care Village, is a 50-bed nursing and care home, set up by PSP Healthcare Ltd.
Its residents will enjoy a range of luxuries, including a hair and beauty salon, a cinema and internet café, along with sensory gardens.
It will be the largest employer in Hatherleigh and has been welcomed by the town's West Devon Borough Councillor and former mayor Dennis Bater, who described it as 'a great asset' to the town and surrounding area.
He said: 'As a borough councillor, I am delighted that the care village is coming to Hatherleigh.
'I have known about it since before I joined the council in late 1989. Over the years it has slowly materialised and now it is finally here.
'What we have got now is a much bigger building than the original plans, offering fantastic views for its residents, overlooking the countryside.'
In addition to the nursing home, which has 50 beds in en suite private rooms, the village will have 15 close care apartments which are planned for completion by spring 2009.
These will be offered for sale and are designed to enable residents to live a stress-free, independent life within a community of like minded people.
Mr Bater said: 'The close care apartments will be great for the retired and more independent residents —the whole layout and design is wonderful.'
The apartments have been specially designed with car parking on-site and an around the clock emergency call alarm system.
They will be cabled for satellite TV and broadband and are built with wide doorways to cater for wheelchairs and frames.
The care village will also see every member of staff carrying a discreet personal mobile to allow residents to call for assistance in a private and dignified manner.
Mayor of West Devon Terry Pearce said: 'It certainly is something very special for this area. It is purpose-designed, state of the art accommodation.
'They have an amazing section for dementia. It was the little things that impressed me, like the boxes that they had by each door for the residents to put a photo of something familiar, a pet or loved ones, so as to help them identify that it was their own room.'
Mr Pearce said he was impressed with the layout and structure of the village: 'Everything is to hand and within reach. It is all finished to a very high standard. It really is lovely. You have to see it, to appreciate it.'
Managing director of PSP Healthcare Ltd Preyan Dewani said: 'Hatherleigh Care Village represents a significant investment in the town and it will make a real difference to the daily lives of the elderly residents in our care.
'The nurses and carers are really looking forward to working in a hotel-style, state of the art care centre, with all the latest technology.
'We would like to thank the local community and councillors for their tremendous support.'
Mr Dewani said the care village would bring a tremendous boost in employment to the area.
'It's a really exciting time for Hatherleigh and everyone involved in the development.
'The village will see great improvements for everybody concerned, the residents who will live there and the staff who will get to work in such a lovely environment.
'The fact that we also have the close care apartments coming in is great. It will mean residents will have their independence and privacy but also their safety and peace of mind.'
Mr Dewani said the care village manager would be Jan Hazell, currently manager at Aalen House in Okehampton, also owned by PSP Healthcare Ltd.
Staff are currently being recruited for Hatherleigh Care Village. Mr Dewani said they will be looking for nurses, care assistants and domestic staff.
The care village is holding an open day tomorrow (Friday) from 10am to 6.30pm and on Saturday from 10am to 3pm for anyone interested in viewing the village before residents move in.
An official opening of the complex will take place next year, following completion of the close care apartments.