Friday The 13th Brings Luck And Recognition To Care Homes Working With Dementia Care Matters, International Culture Change Organisation.
Two care homes, demonstrating Dementia Care Matters’ core model of a feelings and family based approach to supporting people living with a dementia, received outstanding successes at the 6th National Dementia Care Awards in Birmingham on Friday 13th November 2015.
Merevale House, which was the first home in which David Sheard, CEO of Dementia Care Matters worked alongside inspirational manager Anne Fretwell to develop the approach 20 years ago, achieved the Best Dementia Care Home for the second time. The judges said the home ‘shines as a truly inclusive community without barriers. It is about real meaningful living and quality of life for everyone. The best model to follow for the future of dementia care.’ It also won the ‘Best Dementia Garden’ award for creating a ‘haven of tranquility’ with a beach where people can ‘feel the sand under their toes and make a splash.’
The Royal Star & Garter Home in Solihull won ‘Best Dementia Team’ and ‘Best Resident/Relative Contribution’ which was won by Rachel Christophers, whose husband Theo, an Army veteran, lives in the home.
Sheena Wyllie, who recently conducted a day long observation in The Royal Star & Garter Home, where the home achieved the highest level of Dementia Care Matters’ Quality of Life Award, commented:
“The Team at The Royal Star & Garter Homes have created a ‘home’ in which there is such a strong sense of well-being and mutual regard, it is almost palpable. The team and people who live with a dementia are confident in themselves and their value to others.”
Dementia Care Matters works with organisations across the UK, Ireland and now also in Canada and Australia to break down institutional barriers so that people living and working in a care home share the day as a family.
Those achieving the Dementia Care Matters Quality of Life award are also increasingly gaining similar recognition from the Care Quality Commission, with Merevale House recently achieving the much coveted ‘outstanding’ evaluation.
Dementia Care Matters will be running Person Centred Dementia Care courses in London, Cardiff and York in 2016, which offer managers the core building blocks for achieving the highest level of quality of life for people.
For more information about Dementia Care Matters, please contact: Billie-Jo Button e:info@dementiacarematters.com or sally@dementiacarematters.com t: 01273 242335 www.dementiacarematters.com
