A new West Hampstead home with a £1.5m refurbishment has been opened by Jewish Care for residents with long-term mental health problems.

Officially opened last week in the presence of the Chief Rabbi, Sidney Corob House on Fortune Green Road was donated by Elizabeth Corob, who owned the previous Westmount Jewish residential care home on the site with her husband Sidney.

The house had been opened in the 1970s but was no longer attracting many residents. Simon Morris, chief executive of Jewish Care, said: "It was a difficult decision for her to close the home but she asked us if we could make use of it, and we could because our old home on Mapesbury Avenue in Willesden Green is no longer fit for purpose."

The refurbishment has been paid for by the sale of the Willesden Green property. Currently with 25 residents, the home has three floors, each with its own lounge, plus two large lounges, a conservatory, dining room and garden.

Aviva Trup, Jewish Care's mental health service manager, said: "The environment has transformed how the residents feel about themselves."

One resident said: "I feel like I have won the pools!'"

Mr Morris said the charity would continue to invest, despite local authority cuts. "We believe we have to keep moving forward, because unless we stay relevant then people won't use us."

The plaque was unveiled by Elizabeth Corob and her daughters.