6 November 2020
Hallmark shortlisted for six National Dementia Care Awards
We’re delighted to announce that three of our team members, two of our homes and a technology supported by Hallmark Care Homes this year have been shortlisted for this year’s National Dementia Care Awards.
Care Assistant at Ty Enfys, Emma Harper has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Dementia Carer’ category, alongside Dementia Care Co-ordinator at Admiral Court, Irene Anderson, who is shortlisted in the ‘Best Dementia Care Practitioner’ category.
Meanwhile, Dementia Care Lead at Ty Enfys, Maria Gasson is shortlisted in the ‘Dementia Care Champion’ category, alongside Lakeview, our care home in Lightwater, which is in the running to win the ‘Best Dementia Garden’ award.
Admiral Court, our ‘outstanding’ care home in Leigh on Sea has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Best Dementia Team’ category whilst Hallmark Care Homes has also been shortlisted for ‘Outstanding Dementia Care Innovation’ for our work with an application called RelsApp. This app allows residents and relatives to communicate with one and another on a safe, social media network and send each other messages, pictures and videos all of which can be replayed at a later date.
The awards, which were first established in 2009 by The Journal of Dementia Care, will seek to acknowledge care providers and individuals who have made a significant difference to the quality of life of people living with dementia.
Speaking of the prestigious nomination, Susan Cruse, General Manager at Admiral Court Care Home said: “I am so pleased that our dementia team and Irene Anderson have been recognised for the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm they bring to the home. I am immensely proud of everyone for the difference they make to the lives of our residents every day and I would like to take the opportunity to thank the entire team for their on-going support.”
Irene, who has worked at Admiral Court since 2016 and in the care sector for 30 years said: “I am very happy to be nominated for such a prestigious award, to win it would be amazing but being nominated is truly an honour.
“I would like to thank everyone that nominated me for believing in me, thank you to Hallmark for always supporting me and a big thank you to the team at Admiral Court for helping me achieve my goals.”
Maria who has worked at Ty Enfys Care Home for over the past 10 years said: “I am very humbled, very proud and very lucky to work with these lovely residents and to have such a great team working alongside me, always.”
Emma who works at the home alongside Maria added: “I have no words I am just in awe that my fellow Ty Enfys family nominated me for the award and to be shortlisted is just unbelievable, to be honest I am in shock. I love my role within my home but it is not without its challenges, I try to put my heart and full effort into everything I do and to have that recognised is truly amazing. I’d like to add how brilliant and inspiring every single team member is who works within the industry, you all rock!”
General Manager at Ty Enfys Care Home, Sujjata Singh said: “I am extremely delighted to see Emma and Maria reach the final of the Dementia Awards which they truly deserve, their work needs to be recognised.”
Head of Relationship Centred Care at Hallmark Care Homes, April Dobson has been working closely with Howard Bashford, the inventor of the RelsApp to enhance this technology which is exclusive to Hallmark.
She said: “I am delighted that the judges have nominated Hallmark Care Homes RelsApp as a finalist in the awards. The app helps everyone to stay connected and share precious moments, and it’s great that everyone’s hard work and creativity has been recognised in this way.”
Howard added: “I am absolutely thrilled that Hallmark Care Homes’ RelsApp has been shortlisted for the Dementia Care Awards as it is so important to keep residents connected with their relatives, for the wellbeing and happiness of both the resident and the relative – especially during these difficult times. From personal experience, I know how much a simple message, picture or video can mean.”
The acclaimed nomination for Lakeview is not the first. At the 2017 National Dementia Care Awards, the team were shortlisted for the ‘Best Dementia Garden’ accolade but narrowly missed out on the award. Since then, the home has enhanced their gardens further by creating a dementia garden this year with wildlife friendly planting, colourful plants with a range of textures and smells and installing a greenhouse which will be used for pottering.
Lifestyle Leader at Lakeview Care Home, Emily Sheath said: “I am so proud that our beautiful garden has been chosen as one of the finalists for ‘Best Dementia Garden.’ The team, residents, and relatives all care passionately about our garden. The garden is very much part of our everyday life. We use it in all weathers and at all times of the year to create a calming and sensually stimulating space for all.”
General Manager at Lakeview Care Home, Inderpreet Hanzra said: “Dementia care is something very close to my heart. Delivering the best dementia care is our main aim here at Lakeview. We are lucky to have such a lovely dementia garden to enable us to deliver our vision. The garden is an area loved by all, residents, relatives, and team members alike. It provides a calming and safe environment in which people at all stages of the dementia journey can enjoy and thrive.”
The winners of the 11th National Dementia Care Awards will be announced at a virtual ceremony on Thursday 12th November.
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