One day I'll wish I could remember what I learned yesterday

Amidst the wide-ranging activities that Mike Dixon had arranged for Ros and I in Birmingham was something a little different. Usually, we do Party oriented things, (P)resident surveying, or a dinner, but this time we were taken to see a new short term care and rehab centre, built under the Liberal Democrat joint administration.

Cllr Sue Anderson is the Cabinet member for Adult and Community Services, and is justly proud of the effort that has gone into creating the £11 million facility known as the Ann Marie Howes Care Centre, in Sheldon, deep in Hemming territory in Yardley. We were given a guided tour by the centre's manager and I was incredibly impressed by the attention to detail and the thoughtfulness that has gone into the design of each element.

One of those elements is a new unit for victims of dementia. Each room has a 'memory box' on the door, so that the resident can recognise which room is theirs from the contents on display. Something that I hadn't known was that those who develop dementia also lose the ability to recognise certain colours, whilst red and yellow are recognised for much longer.

This knowledge is used in unexpected ways. Plants in the garden with red leaves are used to delineate paths, red edging is put on steps to make them easier to spot.

The centre has a wide range of facilities, with a gymnasium for helping the elderly to maintain fitness and thus independence, a lovely little restaurant, free wi-fi so that residents can communicate with friends and family and connect to the rest of the world, and such seemingly small things as podiatry services. Cutting your toenails isn't easy when your flexibility and mobility are limited, and having someone to do it for you is invaluable.

Sue clearly has a passion for what she is doing, and her determination to give the elderly an opportunity to live in dignity in decent accommodation is a reminder of why we are in politics, to change people's lives for the better. This is the fourth new centre that has been opened, replacing aging, below standard facilities - another Labour failure caused through years of neglect, and if the finances can be settled to the satisfaction of the Council, there may be more, if the demand exists.

I should also note that we were treated to lunch at the centre. If you ever happen to be in the area, and the chicken and ham pie is on, trust me, it's very, very good.