Royal Star & Garter Receives A Top National Award For Its Outstanding Dementia Care

Royal Star & Garter receives a top national award for its outstanding dementia care.

The charity won the Professional Excellence category at the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Hero Awards on Thursday 20 May.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, from Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe.

Judges were impressed at how staff across the Homes have been able to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic, and continue providing exceptional person-centred care and innovative activities to residents living with dementia.

Relatives whose loved ones are living with dementia and are being cared for at the charity’s Homes say the award is in recognition of their staff’s hard work and is richly deserved.

The awards evening took place online, during Dementia Action Week, which runs from 17-23 May. It was hosted by Richard Madeley and showcased the stories of people providing outstanding care during the pandemic, recognising the inspirational achievements of those who support people living with dementia.

The award is the latest Royal Star & Garter has received for its specialist dementia care, following successes in the National Dementia Care Awards and Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards.

During the pandemic, staff have worked hard to create a varied programme of tailor-made activities, with innovative events, new clubs, music, arts and games used to tackle the lack of social contact, creating magical moments for residents and raising spirits.

Residents have also been able to keep in touch with relatives through video calls, outdoor visits, Covid-secure meeting rooms and indoor visiting rooms

Pauline Shaw, Director of Care at Royal Star & Garter, said: “I’m immensely proud. Through the pandemic, staff have done everything possible to make sure life continued as normally as possible for residents living with dementia. This was no easy task, and required a huge amount of courage, dedication and sacrifices from everyone working in the Homes. This award is for them, and is in recognition for everything they have done.”