Hallmark Care Homes Launches its Together Dementia Strategy
Award-winning care provider, Hallmark Care Homes launched a new, three-year dementia care strategy recently at both Ty Enfys Care Home in Cardiff, and their recently opened, state-of-the-art home Chamberlain Court Care Home in Royal Tunbridge Wells.
The morning events which were attended by industry professionals and local dignitaries alike, informed visitors of the eleven key outcomes of their Together strategy which has been developed following extensive consultation with 100 residents, 75 relatives and 100 team members.
The strategy details the actions Hallmark Care Homes will undertake as part of their vision to be recognised as the leading provider of high-quality relationship-centred care for all residents by 2020 and will be supported by the creation of a number of specialist dementia care roles.
This includes; a Dementia Strategy Lead, a Hallmark Care Homes’ Dementia Nurse in England and Wales, three peripatetic Dementia Trainers and a Dementia Care Coordinator in larger Hallmark homes.
Moreover, Hallmark is also introducing an Outstanding Relationship Centred Home in Dementia (ORCHID) award to recognise their homes which have successfully implemented the strategy.
To support the strategy from the very onset new tools for recruitment, including an attitudes to dementia questionnaire have also been created to ensure that team members recruited have the compassion and sensitivity to care for someone living with dementia.
Included within this strategy will be extensive dementia training for new team members as part of their induction, which will extend to relatives and members of the local community as part of their commitment to become a dementia friendly organisation.
Hallmark Care Homes 16 homes will also sign up to John’s Campaign which acknowledges the importance of working with family and friends to improve care outcomes for loved ones.
In addition to this, Hallmark Care Homes will look into increasing connections with the national and local Dementia Action Alliances and will continue to fundraise for Alzheimer’s Research UK with the intended target of £25,000 by December 2018.
Hallmark Care Homes, Managing Director, Avnish Goyal said: “2017 is a very exciting time for Hallmark Care Homes, with our 20th anniversary and the launch of our Together Dementia Strategy, which will further enable our team members to deliver high-quality, relationship-centred dementia care to residents.
“We understand the importance of working with residents, relatives, team members, external professionals and the local community, which is why our strategy is called Together and it has been written in collaboration with representatives from all of these groups. This strategy will equip our team with the tools and confidence to enhance the quality of life of residents living with dementia and we are looking forward to the journey ahead.”
The strategy launch events included presentations from Avnish Goyal, Dementia Strategy Consultant David Moore and June Hennell, who has an MBE for her services to people living with dementia.
June spoke about her personal experiences of dementia after her late husband was diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia in 2009 and stressed the importance of individuality in each case of dementia and working with relatives to improve care delivery.
For further information about Hallmark Care Homes Together Dementia Strategy please contact Hallmark Care Homes, Care, Quality, Governance and Compliance Director, Julie Rayner on Julie.Rayner@hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk
