A day care unit in Bicester is to receive a £230,000 revamp, making it Oxfordshire's first designated "super" day centre for the elderly.

Bicester Day Centre in Launton Road will be the first in a series of resource centres across the county, which Oxfordshire County Council hopes will help older people avoid residential care or lengthy hospital stays.

The refurbishment will include a dedicated therapy room, a multi-purpose treatment room, and improvements to the hairdressing salon and assisted bathroom.

A computer suite with a coffee bar will also be included in the improvement work. Other designated resource centres are planned in Shotover, Oxford, and Witney, which will be complemented by smaller, satellite centres in rural areas.

The new resource centres aim to welcome people who want a specific service such as physiotherapy after an accident or a fall, hairdressing, or help with bathing as well as people who use them for social activities and lunch.

Last year the centre in Bicester ran a six-month physiotherapy pilot, which managers said showed the potential for the project. By offering physiotherapy services at the centre, rather than in people's homes, the therapists were able to see more people and use more equipment.

It also meant patients were able to meet new people and try other services.

Project manager Claire Soper said: "The physiotherapy pilot we ran last year was very successful, proving we can deliver this type of service from a day centre in a cost effective way.

"We will build on that experience to create a permanent rehabilitative service in collaboration with the primary care trust."

Don Seale, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for adult social care, said: "This is the first day centre in the county to make the change to a resource centre.

"Good health is the key to preventing people having to go into long-term residential care or back into hospital, and instead continuing to live at home, leading an independent life for as long as possible."

Charles Shouler, county councillor for Bicester South, said the investment should help reduce the problem of bed blocking.

The work on Bicester Day Centre, which goes out to tender this month, is not expected to affect existing services.=