COUNCILLORS have agreed to spend £2.8 million on revamping a care home in Hawick.

Concerns have been raised over conditions at Deanfield Care Home in recent years.

Members of the local authority this week backed plans to transform the facility ahead of implementing an innovative new approach to caring for the elderly residents.

The new care design will be based upon the successful care village approach adopted in the Netherlands.

Extending respite and day opportunities is also a key feature of the plans.

Council chief executive Tracey Logan explained: “This is a fantastic opportunity to allow us to drive forward a fundamental shift in how we look after our older people in the Borders.

“It is our aim to ensure people feel at home and live happy, enjoyable lives no matter how complex their needs are.

"Our older people must have access to the right care to meet their needs, and they must be able to do that in a homely, welcoming and enjoyable environment.

“As always, we are being ambitious, but we have a clear vision about how we want our care homes to look, feel and how they should operate.

"We have seen an exceptionally inspiring model in the Netherlands, and there is no reason why we can’t deliver something as fantastic here in the Borders.

“The approach at Deanfield will inform our strategy for our care homes going forward with a plan to survey all our care homes by the end of October.”

The Hawick care home will be completely refurbished to provide five ‘homes’, each with six bedrooms, wet rooms, accessible showers and new living/dining areas.

New social spaces and outdoor seating areas will also be created giving friends and family the chance to enjoy the space with their loved ones.