ECL Colchester Older People Day Centre

At ECL, we recognise the importance of keeping our customers connected to the communities they live in. That’s why we encourage integration with the community by arranging regular trips to local attractions like Colchester Castle, organising coffee mornings, and heading out for lunches at a host of nearby cafes and restaurants.

We often wander to Prettygate where there is a charming café, library, charity shop and a small Co-op. Marylands is just 1.5 miles from the town centre and its proximity means our customers can enjoy all Colchester has to offer.

Getting to us couldn’t be easier. There is a bus stop directly outside, with several routes running into the town centre. The day centre also has use of a dedicated car which is available to customers who need additional support travelling to and from Marylands.

Our Colchester site is fully wheelchair accessible, and we make moving around the facilities even simpler with the help of a Sara Stedy transfer aid and ceiling hoist for safe use of the bathroom. We can work with customers on a 1:1, 2:1 or 4:1 ratio, depending on their needs and are also able to assist adults with medication, enteral feeding, and speech and language therapy (SALT) plans.

All Marylands staff have completed dementia, life support, mental health, and communication training and there is a positive behaviour specialist on hand who can provide support with behaviours that challenge.

Our spacious and welcoming facilities are designed to cater to the diverse needs and interests of our customers, who include adults with dementia and older people with complex medical conditions.

In our large dining room, we serve freshly cooked meals daily and encourage interaction during mealtimes. For those seeking relaxation, our cinema lounge offers a cosy retreat with a large smart TV for screening favourite films, while our Las Vegas themed room adds a touch of glamour to the day.

Our doll therapy area allows customers to nurture – an activity proven to encourage therapeutic engagement, increase happiness, and reduce episodes of distress.

The multi-faith room is the ideal tranquil space for reflection, and the salon offers pampering and self-care. Elsewhere in the building, the quiet room provides a relaxing area where customers can chill out, and our well-appointed accessible shower room ensures comfortable personal care.

All our customers have access to iPads, laptops and a network of Alexa devices to use as they wish. OMI, an interactive LED light is also available, flooding surfaces with colour to create a stunning kaleidoscope effect, known to increase participation and social engagement for those living with dementia.

Our schedule of activities has been designed with all our customers in mind, whether that be an older person with limited mobility, someone living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, or an adult with complex medical needs.

We want to ensure that all our customers can actively participate in our day care programme, which includes a range of activities that entertain and enrich our customers’ days. Visitors to the centre can take part in a variety of Chair Fit classes, covering everything from chair yoga and Zumba through to chair football. We host lively musical bingo games, run interactive quizzes, and regularly whip up tasty treats during our baking classes.

Those who prefer the outdoors can take a stroll in our sensory garden, help with some pruning, or do a spot of flower arranging.

Every fortnight we also welcome therapy dogs to the day centre, who delight our customers and provide a great source of comfort.

At Marylands, we understand the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, which is why we also hold a monthly Memory Café. During these sessions, we invite those with memory loss, including people living with dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, to enjoy a coffee with their family and carers in a relaxing, safe environment.

Our highly skilled specialists are dedicated to creating a warm, positive atmosphere at Marylands. They are experienced in supporting older people with sensory impairments, learning disabilities, dementia, and Alzheimer's but also understand that caregivers require support as well. That’s why our services cater to the needs of our customers and carers, recognising the importance of taking time out to reset and recharge.

Both the day centre and the schedule of activities we’ve curated have been carefully conceived to foster independence and improve the overall wellbeing of our customers. You’ll also find a hot two-course meal on offer, as well as tea, toast, and biscuits waiting on arrival. Whether on or offsite, we want everyone to feel fed, fulfilled and happy during their time with us.