Alzheimer’s Society’s Ann Cotterell Wins Award At Great British Home Care Awards

Alzheimer’s Society’s Ann Cotterell, a Home Support Worker, won The Dementia Care Award at the National Great British Home Care Awards.  The ceremony took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Friday (6 June 2014) and the awards were presented by comedian Patrick Monahan.

In its fifth year, the National Great British Home Care Awards brought together the winners from the nine regional Great British Care Awards which took place in Autumn 2013. Alongside Ann were seven other Alzheimer’s Society staff who had won the awards regionally.  Namely these regional winners were: Sue Simpson, Kath Rycroft, Tracey Stanley, Steven Reading, Elizabeth Blackburn, Debbie Wilson and Daniel Blake.

In the case of Ann Cotterell, the judges felt that Ann: ‘demonstrated a sensitive and compassionate approach and sees her role as a partner into each individual she cares for.’

Mrs Cotterell, who has worked as an Alzheimer’s Society home support worker in Worthing for the past 16 years, said:

‘I am the sort of person who really likes to help people and make their life a little easier. I like having quality time with the diverse range of people we are helping because it gives you a chance to build relationships and get to know them.

‘I think my favourite part of the job is the satisfaction of people achieving things that they do not think they could achieve. It makes me feel like I am doing something worthwhile.’

Alzheimer’s Society comment:

Kathryn Smith, Director of Operations at Alzheimer’s Society, who attended the event said,

‘The Great British Home Care Awards provide a fantastic opportunity to give thanks to those that go over and above the call of duty in their caring role. It’s wonderful to see individuals being recognised for their hard, particularly where dementia is concerned. There are as many as 800,000 people living with the condition in the UK. Many congratulations to Ann for winning the Dementia Care Award and to her fellow colleagues at Alzheimer’s Society for winning regionally and being nominated nationally.’