Larchwood Care

Appleby care home, part of Larchwood Care, has won a prestigious national award.

The North Shields care home received the Dementia Care Team award at the sixth annual Caring UK Awards, which recognise excellence and achievement within the care sector across the UK.

Tony Stein, chief executive of Larchwood Care, said: “This win for Appleby is well-deserved and testament to how Clare and her team go above and beyond to ensure that residents living with dementia have the very best quality of life.

“I had the absolute pleasure to join them and others from our seven homes who were finalists at the Caring UK Awards last night.

“I’ve never felt so proud and honestly believe that their success should be shared across the entire team who all play a major part in making our services a home for those who rely on us for their care.”

An awards spokesperson said: “Never has there been a more appropriate time to recognise the amazing and selfless contribution that our carers make and how they have given so much to protect and care for their residents in the face of unprecedented challenges.”

The awards are organised by Script Events in conjunction with leading care industry magazine Caring UK, with support from headline sponsor Virgin Money.

In each category up to seven finalists have been selected and they will now go through to the next stage of the judging process.

The winners were revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at The Athena in Leicester on Thursday, December 7 when the industry gathered to salute all that is great about the care sector.

The nomination:

Appleby Care Home offers an innovative approach to dementia care, catering to a mixed service user group on the ground floor, and a separate specialised male unit specifically designed to support those living with dementia who may benefit from living in a male-only setting. The latter is a unique service in the North Shields area, providing vital support for those who require it in a suitable and relaxed setting close to family and friends.

Many of the gentlemen who reside at the home have worked in the local fishing industry, a defining aspect of their lives. Recognising this, the home manager and maintenance manager transformed the garden to create a permanent seaside scene, featuring a boat, sea fishing equipment, lobster pots and sand, fostering reminiscence.

Within Appleby's male unit, a bespoke bar area, lovingly crafted by the maintenance manager, allows residents to gather for afternoons filled with camaraderie, non-alcoholic beer, card games and dominoes, as they would have enjoyed following long days in the fishing trade.

Furthermore, another resident living with dementia, a retired post lady, was seeking comfort within the home, so our team members went to the local post office sourcing a post satchel to provide reminiscent comfort which helped her to settle.

These acts of kindness, butterfly moments, illustrate the deep sense of fulfilment and satisfaction that drives the entire dementia care team at Appleby.

The home’s team of dementia experts features two official dementia champions, and is led by Clare Leonard, the first care home manager in the UK to achieve an NIHR Greenshoots Award, enabling the home to take part in the Greenshoots Principal Investigator Scheme. Currently, the home is conducting independent research on nutrition in dementia care, completing a trial with a nutrition support worker exploring how this impacts positive dementia care and behaviour support.

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF LARCHWOOD CARE

CONTACT: Joss Havakin on 01325 363436

Notes to editors:

Larchwood Care has an extensive range of care homes, with an excellent reputation, in England and Scotland.

All of the facilities are set up to support a comfortable lifestyle while making the most of a skilled care team with an approach that is homely and charming, while also being modern and efficient.

Larchwood Care Homes is managed by Healthcare Management Solutions, one of the leading providers of care in the UK.

https://www.larchwoodcare.co.uk/