ECL Harlow Older People Day Centre

At ECL, we recognise the importance of keeping our customers connected to the communities they live in. For Harlow Day Centre, that means encouraging engagement through regular visits to Harlow town centre for a spot of shopping, to dine out in one of many cafes and restaurants or meet new faces in the local social club. We’ll often plan special trips further afield, too – for example, venturing to the Fish and Eel pub in nearby Hoddesdon to enjoy something to eat with a beautiful view of the River Stort.

‘Harlow Dementia Friendly Community’ frequently organises Dementia Walks which our customers can take part in, as well as visits to the community library.

Located in the centre of Harlow, travelling to the day centre by public transport is easy.

We are fully accessible, with wheelchair-friendly facilities and a trusty Sara Stedy transfer aid to make moving around the site even simpler, as well as an overhead tracking hoist for assisting customers in the bathroom.

We can adapt our staff support ratios to the needs of our customers and are also able to assist adults with medication. Our team has received specialist training in supporting customers with dementia, Parkinson’s, and dysphagia, as well as catheter care, communication awareness, and mental health first aid.

All the facilities at Harlow Day Centre are designed to cater to the diverse needs and interests of our customers, who include those with dementia and learning disabilities, as well as older people with complex health conditions.

The stylish dining area and bar seats eight and has been thoughtfully put together with brightly coloured place settings, crockery, and napkins to benefit customers living with dementia.

The main activity room is a cosy space which features dementia-friendly low lighting, a warming fireplace and comfortable armchairs to settle down in. A hub of entertainment, here you’ll find a large TV on which customers can view their favourite films, as well as iPads for internet browsing and Alexa devices for listening to music.

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 people with dementia.

From there, customers can take in the beautiful view over our fabulous sensory garden before heading outside for a stroll or to enjoy a cup of tea in the charming summer house, accessible year-round.

Our schedule of activities at Harlow Day Centre 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 learning disabilities.

We want to ensure that all our customers can actively participate in our day care programme, which includes everything from bingo and board games to quizzes and arts and crafts. All activities promote the maintenance of cognitive skills, provide opportunities for valuable social interaction, and allow people to express their creativity.

Using the active support model, we encourage customers to get involved with the preparation of ‘tea and toast’ in the morning – maintaining independence and creating a lovely, welcoming smell as others arrive. Everybody also has an opportunity to bake their own desserts to enjoy each day.

We’re pleased to welcome therapy dog Monty to the centre on a regular basis, who provides a great source of comfort and puts smiles on everyone’s faces. Gorgeous Golden Retriever Monty has been taught to do tricks with the customers, who love having the chance to open up about their own pets.

Our highly skilled specialists are dedicated to creating a warm, positive atmosphere at Harlow Day Centre. 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 always find a hot two-course meal on offer, because whether on or offsite, we want everyone to feel fed, fulfilled and happy during their time with us.