ELDERLY residents’ life at a care home have been transformed thanks to a unique “magical” village in their own backyard.

Bereland’s care home in Prestwick opened the doors to their new mini village, which features a host of shops, hairdressers and a coffee shop for residents living with dementia to enjoy.

With going to the shops outside the care home a challenge for many residents, some residents took it upon themselves to suggest bringing the outside world to them.

After a meeting with the resident committee and staff, the idea of a village grew, with one member of staff building the village transforming the courtyard into a community shopping haven.

Manager Theresa Mangonon has noticed a difference in residents as the village has created a “thriving” community within the care home.

She told the Ayr Advertiser: “It’s amazing, you can just see the joy ofthe residents, it’s almost magical and it brings them confidence, the home is a lot happier there is a lot more of a buzz.

“They have something else to do in the garden, the weather has been really nice as well. The residents can take their grandchildren to the shop to buy them some sweets. That whole feeling of ‘I can still do this’- it’s just transformed our residents.”

Generous local businesses helped make the village what it is, with Sainsbury’s providing stock for the shop, the glass windows provided by Rainbow Glass and signs in each shop by Owen Kerr signs.

The village features a main shop for residents called ‘Betty’s shop’ which was decided by a resident who won a raffle to name the shop and named it after his late wife.

Theresa added: “It’s a feeling of not being in a care home. There can sometimes be a feeling of isolation sometimes, especially for those residents who can no longer leave the home.

“The whole home is now happier, calmer, residents with dementia now make decisions for themselves.”