International experts have hailed the life-changing work of a specialist housing project in Northern Ireland.
Hemsworth Court in Belfast was built to provide accommodation for people with dementia and cognitive impairment.
And judges from the World Habitat Awards selected the project as one of ten finalists for this year’s prestigious global prize.
Residents are supported to live independently at the dementia-friendly complex in the Lower Shankhill area of the city, and local people are encouraged to spend time with residents at regular community social events.
Claire Lemon (pictured above), has lived at Radius Housing’s Hemsworth Court for the past three years following a diagnosis of vascular dementia and early Alzheimer’s. She said she could hardly walk before getting a place there.
“I suffered hair loss from pulling at and playing with my hair continually,” she explained.