Chigwell care home makes a tree for Dignity Action Day

Chigwell care home residents are taking a green-fingered approach with a difference to supporting Dignity Action Day on Tuesday 3 February – they are growing their own Dignity Tree.

The Digni-Tree - as residents and staff at Belmont Lodge Care Centre like to call it - will be taking root in the lounge so that everyone can reap the fruits of their labour. All the leaves have been hand made by the residents and bear their own definitions of dignity, the aim being to encourage people to discuss what dignity means to them, in the spirit of Dignity Action Day: a national initiative led by the Dignity in Care Campaign and its key partners to highlight the importance of preserving the dignity of people in care.

“Treating individuals with dignity and respect is at the root of everything we do here at Belmont Lodge - it’s the key to creating a happy and caring environment for our residents, so Dignity Action Day is a cause that’s very close to our hearts. We are very proud to celebrate not only what we are achieving here but the importance of promoting the health and happiness of people in a caring and safe environment,” comments centre manager Maureen McDonagh.

It’s a sentiment echoed by Val Sanders, whose father is at Belmont Lodge: “My father has settled well. The home is friendly and the staff are all lovely. Nothing is too much trouble. My sister and I feel confident our dad is in good hands. He has improved both physically and psychologically since being here and we are delighted to find him so well and full of life again after having been very low. He loves the activities and being taken out in particular.”

Belmont Lodge is located on Fencepiece Road in Chigwell, and offers 24 hour residential care for older people, with a particular specialism in dementia care. The home has 40 bedrooms, most of which have ensuite facilities, and five day rooms where residents can enjoy views over the beautiful gardens. The home is one of 12 in the Forest Healthcare family of homes, offering excellent care throughout Greater London and the South East. For more information, please call 08444 725 178 or visit www.foresthc.com. For those looking for a suitable home for a loved one, visits are also welcome at any time with no appointment necessary.

For more information about Dignity Action Day go to the Dignity in Care website www.dignityincare.org.uk  

ENDS

For further media information or photographs, please contact:

Sam Orange or Jay Commins

Pyper York Limited

Tel:         01904 500698

Email:    sam@pyperyork.co.uk or jay@pyperyork.co.uk