We recently caught up with Charli Morgan, Dementia Care Manager at Hallmark Henley Manor. Charli shared insights into her vital role, where she’s dedicated to supporting residents living with dementia maintain a fulfilling life.
What is the role of a Dementia Care Manager?
I have worked in healthcare for the last 16 years, in which Dementia has always been my passion and to be a voice for those that need it.
At Hallmark Henley Manor, my primary role is to provide comprehensive support in all areas related to dementia care. This includes training, coaching, and mentoring our team, sharing my knowledge and experience, and offering guidance to the families of those living with dementia as they navigate their unique journey. My focus is to ensure we fully integrate the Welcome Home strategy into our daily practices, empowering our residents with dementia to thrive and ensuring their voices are always heard.
What does a usual day look like for you?
Every day is different, and you never know what to expect when you walk into work in the morning. But being greeted by residents, some with a smile or a hug, always reminds me how rewarding this job is. The relationships I’ve built with each resident, and the difference I’ve made – whether it’s introducing ‘the hug and laugh’ to give someone a sense of security or simply starting the day with a warm hug and smile to make them feel valued – make my job a true privilege.
What is the most important part of your role?
The most important part of my role is the make a difference not just to our residents but also the team. Supporting the team to really understand and embed all our dementia resources and strategy that will then allow our residents to live the best life possible and to truly thrive.
What changes have you made since assuming your position and what impact has this had on the home?
One of my key roles at Hallmark Henley Manor has been leading the Senses Detectives training for the entire team, ensuring they fully understand the framework and can effectively integrate it into our daily practices.
My proudest achievement so far has been working alongside my team to implement the Namaste Project. We now provide Namaste Care daily for residents experiencing anxiety or late-stage dementia. This therapeutic approach focuses on enhancing quality of life through a calming and enriching process, utilising physical, sensory, and emotional techniques.
Additionally, we’ve expanded Namaste Care to support our End-of-Life care, further enhancing the comfort and dignity of our residents.
What advice would you give to someone caring for a loved one living with dementia?
To take care of yourself and remember you are doing amazing. It is not always easy so please never be afraid to ask for help.
What do you enjoy the most about being a Dementia Care Manager?
The thing I enjoy the most about my job is the people I have the honour of not only meeting but caring for. I enjoy being able to make a difference for them and support them to continue to be themselves with no judgement. The most rewarding part of my job for me is when I receive a smile back, a look of thankfulness in their eyes and knowing we have done everything we can for that person to thrive.
Can you think of a personal highlight in your role?
A personal highlight for me was when we used Namaste Care to improve a resident’s contracted hand, increasing her mobility. This progress enabled her to use the ‘hand-over-hand’ technique with the team during mealtimes, giving her greater control over her nutritional intake. While this may seem like a small achievement to some, or something many of us take for granted, it was a significant milestone for this resident.
How do you spend your free time?
I love spending time with all the children in my life such as my daughter, godchildren and my close friends’ children. A lot of the time my house is filled with children on the weekends or holidays. I love spending as much time as I can with family and friends and capturing all those moments in little videos to keep as memories, which I have to plan around being a football mum. When I have the spare time just for me, I really love booking in a sneaky massage.