A decade ago Thomas Kelly had a dream to expand family-run care home Margaret House by providing a service for dementia patients.

After many years of planning, his dream has become a reality and he will be inviting people to come to Barley and see what state-of-the-art Phylomena House – named after his late mother who opened Margaret House 45 years ago – has to offer.

Thomas always lived by a philosopy handed down by his parents – that if he cared for people in the same way that he would care for a grandparent, then he could never go wrong.

Commenting on the opening of the new facility, he said: “This is a dream come true. Now I can continue what my mother started all those years ago providing a home with extra special care.”

The building, located next to Margaret House, has 24 bedrooms, which are all ensuite and have flat screen TVs and private phones.

There are also two bathrooms with comfort lighting and a jacuzzi.

The home also includes a hairdressing salon/nail bar, and a cinema room. There are call bells placed throughout the building.

The open day for the home in Church End will be held next Saturday, February 20, between 10am and 2pm. The new facility is particularly timely as there is an increasing demand for dementia services – there are more than 700,000 people with dementia in England, a figure which is set to increase to around 850,000 by 2021, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.

In a poll of almost 600 carers, families and friends of people with dementia, only two per cent said that in their experience all hospital staff understood the specific needs of people with dementia.

Meanwhile it’s all change at Mary Barfield House in Royston which has been taken over by care provider Care By Us.

Councillor Colette Wyatt-Lowe, responsible for adult care and health at Herts County Council, said: “We are currently speaking to residents and their families and carers about the future of Mary Barfield House.

“Our priority has always been to make sure that our older and vulnerable residents get the best possible care and that is why we have commissioned Care By Us.

“We will continue to work with staff, residents and their families to ensure each individual receives the care that is right for them in the right place.”