Opening our new dementia floor at Bingley Park Care Home

On Friday 16 October we opened the new dementia floor at Bingley Park on Stoney Ridge Road.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Chris Herd, came along to cut the ribbon. The day brought in GPs, district nurses, the Older People’s Mental Health Team, the Dementia Assessment Unit and dementia services from across the area. Everyone was shown round before a talk from Dementia Friends about how families and the wider community can better support people living with dementia.

A dementia floor designed around memories

There are 27 bedrooms up there, laid out around spaces people will know. A nursery. A laundry area. A lounge furnished from the fifties through to the eighties, where the baking bowls and the weighing scales are the real thing rather than replicas.

There is a music therapy space, a cinema room, a sensory room with soft lights and soft textures, and an indoor garden.

Dementia care for couples

Some of the bedrooms have interconnecting doors. They work as two separate rooms, or they open up into a bedroom for a couple or for companions, with a sitting area next door.

Couples do not always need the same care at the same time, and this means they do not have to be in different parts of the building to get it.

Specialist dementia care across Tanglewood

Tanglewood has been family-run since 1989, and dementia care has been part of the work for most of that time. Every one of our homes supports people living with dementia, which means what is learned in one home tends to find its way into the others.

Bingley Park opened in 2024 with 72 bedrooms, offering residential, dementia, respite, day and palliative care. The new floor adds 27 dedicated dementia rooms to that.

Supporting families through dementia care

A diagnosis tells you very little about a person. What helps is knowing what they did for a living, what they listened to, how they take their tea and what time they have always got up.

That is what goes into a Personalised Care Plan here, and it is why the floor is furnished the way it is. A laundry area means something to somebody who ran a household for forty years. A nursery means something to somebody who raised four children in one. The surroundings do some of the work a team member would otherwise have to do with words.

Why we designed the floor this way

Vicky Thompson, home manager at Bingley Park Care Home, said:

“We wanted to create much more than simply a new floor with bedrooms. We wanted to create somewhere that feels familiar, stimulating and meaningful for people living with dementia, where their life stories and memories can become part of everyday care.

“The decision to use genuine items from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s was really important to us. These aren’t just old objects – they can be powerful triggers for memories, conversations and emotions. A familiar piece of music, an old-fashioned laundry item or something they remember from raising their own children can suddenly open up a conversation and help someone reconnect with a part of their past.

“With 27 dedicated dementia beds, we are also able to support more people living with dementia in Bradford and provide their families with the reassurance that they are being cared for in an environment specifically designed around their needs. We’re incredibly proud of what the team has created.”

What the Lord Mayor says

Councillor Chris Herd, Lord Mayor of Bradford, said:

“It was a real pleasure to officially open Bingley Park’s new dementia floor and see first-hand the thought and care that has gone into creating such a welcoming environment.

“The use of authentic items from previous decades is a particularly lovely touch. These familiar objects, music and surroundings can help people reconnect with important memories and provide opportunities for conversation and interaction.

“Dementia affects many families across Bradford, so having dedicated beds and a team focused on providing specialist support is an important addition to care provision in the local community. I was delighted to meet the team and those involved in bringing this new facility to life.”

Visit our dementia care home in Bradford

Everyone working on the floor is taking additional training in dementia awareness and positive behaviour support. The team are working towards being recognised as Dementia Friends with the Alzheimer’s Society.

Experience that makes a difference

Across Tanglewood, our teams receive accredited dementia training, with further learning and workshops helping them build on their knowledge. That experience shapes the little things that matter each day, from recognising when someone needs reassurance to knowing when to step back and let them do something for themselves.

Everyone working on the new floor is taking additional training in dementia awareness and positive behaviour support, and the team are working towards being recognised as Dementia Friends with the Alzheimer’s Society.

We’ve also become the first residential care provider in the UK to be recognised as a Join Dementia Research Champion, supporting opportunities for residents, families and team members to contribute to research into dementia. It’s another way we’re working to improve care, both within our homes and beyond them.

Supporting families along the way

Moving a loved one into dementia care is a big decision, and we know families need support too. We encourage relatives to share photographs, memories and stories that help us get to know the person behind the diagnosis. These details become part of everyday care, helping our team understand what brings someone comfort, enjoyment or a sense of familiarity.

Families are welcome to stay involved through visits, conversations with the team and regular relatives’ meetings. We want them to feel that they’re still very much part of their loved one’s life.

Come and have a look

We are taking enquiries for the dementia floor now. You do not need an appointment to visit, so come when it suits you, or ring us on 01274 056015 or email info@twhealthcare.co.uk and we will find a time.