New centre for dementia sufferers

A specialist unit for people with dementia opens in York on Monday.

City of York Council said it created the unit because of a forecast 50% increase in the number of older people with dementia in the next 14 years.

Based at the Windsor House residential care home in Ascot Way, it will provide eight permanent beds for people in need of long-term care.

Dementia affects one person in five over the age of 80. There are about 750,000 sufferers in the UK.

Keith Martin, the council's head of adult services, said: "We are delighted that the new specialist unit is opening its doors as there is a real need for this type of facility in York.

"This and other recent services developments form part of our response to the changing needs of our increasingly aged population."