A CARE home is celebrating the completion of a major improvement scheme that cost more than £1m.

A new wing containing 22 bedrooms has been built at the privately-owned Barton Lodge, which is in the process of recruiting up to 30 extra staff.

The home in Barton Common Road, Barton on Sea, specialises in providing care for people suffering from dementia.

It remained open during the improvement project, which included the creation of a landscaped garden overlooking the Solent and the Isle of Wight.

The new-look home was unveiled at a ceremony attended by dozens of guests, including the mayor of New Milton, Cllr David Hawkins.

Managing director Shabbir Walji said that the refurbishment, which took more than a year, marked a major milestone in the home’s development.

He added: “It underscores what we passionately believe in – the highest standards of care.

“Our ethos is to provide the very best of care and a lifestyle that stimulates the senses.

“Barton Lodge has been refurbished to the highest standard and we are truly proud to present the home in its present form.

“It is a home. We don’t believe in providing an institutionalised type of care.”

The home enables residents to pursue popular pastimes such as bingo, baking and gardening.

Regular exercise classes and flower arranging are also on the itinerary at the seafront complex, which overlooks Barton golf course.

A new brochure highlighting the improvements includes comments from sons and daughters of people living at Barton Lodge.

One woman says: “When I ask my mum if she is happy at Barton Lodge her answer never changes: ‘I could not be happier’.

Enjoying life “For me the most important thing is that my mother is well cared for and is enjoying her life.”

Another relative adds: “You hear so many bad stories (about some care homes) but never hear about the wonderful dedication of so many others.”