30 March 2015

Anya Court Named ‘Best Care Home’ at Pinders Awards

Anya Court, our care home in Rugby, was recently awarded the top accolade of ‘Best Care Home’ at the prestigious Pinders Healthcare Design Awards.

The awards, which marked a record breaking fifth win in five years for Hallmark, seek to acknowledge the contribution made by designers, architects and the owners of care homes, hospitals and other care schemes to the well-being and quality of life for those in their care.

Anya Court was opened in October 2014 by television presenter John Craven who described the home as “the shining star for all other care homes.”

The home, which provides residential, nursing and dementia care, has been the talk of the town thanks to its impressive architecture and offering of innovative facilities such the luxury cinema and relaxing therapy room. Other areas such as the colourful ‘Corner Shop’ and the various ‘Residents’ Laundry’ rooms are designed to encourage active and independent living.

Anya Court’s specialist dementia community features its own ‘Tea for Two Café’ with a traditional kitchen area and a large terrace overlooking the gardens. There is also a hair salon, laundry room and ‘Emporium’ shop; all of which providing vital destination points for residents living with a form of dementia.

Outside, there are landscaped gardens, complete with a greenhouse, and a modern water feature as its centerpiece. Meanwhile, residents are encouraged to get involved and keep active by joining their weekly Gardening Club.

The objective of the home was to create an attractive building to fit the local community, and to provide residents with indoor and outdoor spaces that encourage activity and interaction.

Managing Director for Hallmark Care Homes, Avnish Goyal said: “It feels amazing to have won and to win five years in a row is incredible. It is down to the dedication of the team, hard work, constant evolution of design and feedback from our residents and relatives why we are standing here today. We are always striving to do better and this award is fantastic recognition from the sector.”

A panel of expert judges visited Anya Court last month along with two others, including a Bupa care facility, before coming to their decision.

Entrants were judged on room and en suite sizes, facilities made available to residents, use of outdoor space, level of ambiance and interior and exterior design.

Panel expert and director of Pinders, Jon Chapman said: “It is Hallmark’s attention to detail, their use of outdoor space which they make available to residents and their continued evolvement which gives them a buzz and set them apart from other entrants.

“Whilst we have had multiple winners over the years, nobody has ever won in successive years as Hallmark have.  I think three in a row was a record, four certainly was and five is just a credit to everyone involved.”

Jon, who has been involved in Pinders for the last 25 years, added: “We first starting issuing awards in 1999, and in the last 16 years we have seen some really good projects. We will continue to showcase what’s good in care homes as time progresses.”

Anya Court’s win follows in the footsteps of  Maycroft Manor in Brighton which was awarded ‘Best Large Dementia Community’ at last years awards. Bucklesham Grange Care Home in Ipswich picked up the award in 2013, leading on from Alexandra Grange in Wokingham and Anisha Grange in Essex which won awards in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Lakeview, our care home in Surrey, was also recognised at this year’s finals for their outstanding dementia facilities, just narrowly missing out on an award.

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