A beautiful new care home has opened its doors in Inverness, setting the stage for a bold new era of care and community in the Highlands.
Pittyvaich Care Home, the latest addition to the Parklands Care Homes group, represents a major investment in both people and place.
With 58 en-suite bedrooms, this £11 million development is the largest purpose-built home ever created by Parklands, and the first new care home in Inverness for five years.
Every detail of Pittyvaich has been thoughtfully designed to offer comfort, dignity and connection.
Residents can enjoy a café, salon, spacious lounges, activity rooms, peaceful quiet areas and beautifully landscaped gardens.
Many rooms boast sweeping views across the Moray Firth, while the home’s position near schools, nurseries and churches ensures it will be part of the wider community rather than apart from it.
The opening of Pittyvaich is expected to create around 120 new jobs locally, offering a welcome boost to the Inverness economy.
The home was built by Capstone Construction, a local firm that kept jobs and investment rooted firmly in the area throughout the build.
Yet Pittyvaich is only the beginning of a far more ambitious vision.
Parklands plans to create an integrated care community in Inverness, the first of its kind in the Highlands.
The future development will include a later living village designed for independent older residents, as well as key worker apartments to help ease local housing pressures and support essential staff.
This major project forms part of Parklands’ wider expansion across the Highlands.
The group is also growing its existing homes in Tain, Fortrose and Grantown on Spey, adding a further 26 beds at a cost of £4.5 million.
Subject to planning approval, this will bring 84 new beds across the Highlands over the coming year.
Ron Taylor, Managing Director of Parklands Care Homes, said the new home is much more than bricks and mortar.
“Pittyvaich is a symbol of our long-term commitment to the Highlands,” he said.
“At a time when over 200 care beds have been lost across the region, this investment could not be more needed.”
“We are investing in the future of care, creating jobs, supporting families and building something that will serve this community for years to come.
“This is just the first step in our vision for a care community where older people can live with dignity, independence and support, while key workers can find affordable homes.”
MP Angus MacDonald called the opening “a rare and wonderful occasion” and praised Parklands for their courage and foresight.
MSP Rhoda Grant echoed his sentiments, stressing the growing demand for care as the Highlands population continues to age.
MSP Edward Mountain described Pittyvaich as a vital step in addressing the shortage of care home spaces in the region.
Donald Macaskill, CEO of Scottish Care, hailed Parklands’ investment as “great news indeed” in the face of growing economic pressures on the care sector.
The construction of Pittyvaich also holds a deeply personal connection for Ron Taylor.
The home is named after the Speyside distillery once run by his grandfather, Andrew.
As a student, Ron cared for his grandfather, an experience that inspired him to launch Parklands in 1993.
The family tribute continues with Ishbel Place, the street leading into Pittyvaich, named after his mother.
The new care home will be led by Jaime McNab, an experienced professional who joins Parklands from NHS Highland, where she served as Lead Nurse for Care Homes and Care at Home services.
With Pittyvaich now open, a new chapter begins for care in Inverness.
