Islington care home puts the pamper into Dignity Action Day

Indulgent pampering treats await residents of a care home in Islington celebrating Dignity Action Day on Monday 2 February. In fact, the hardest choice the residents of Bridgeside Lodge will have to make is the order in which to have their manicure, pedicure or relaxing massage!

Dignity Action Day is 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, which is at the root of everything Bridgeside Lodge does, as centre manager Fatma Makalo explains: “Treating individuals with dignity and respect is 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.”

This sentiment is echoed by Dennis Atkins, whose daughter lives at Bridgeside Lodge: “My daughter Rebecca Garner was a dynamic 50 year old until on 29 February 2012 she suffered hypoxic brain injury, as a result she is helpless, cannot speak or lift a finger. When she moved into Bridgeside Lodge in the September she was dishevelled, frightened, disruptive and screaming to get attention. Now when I visit she is calm and greets me with a smile. My daughter will be helpless and speechless until the day she dies but thanks to the loving care she receives from every member of staff she is safe and comfortable. Every patient is treated with loving respect and this is the ethos throughout the staff. It would be good if every care home in the UK was of the same high standard as Bridgeside Lodge.”

Bridgeside Lodge Care Centre is located on Wharf Road in Islington, and is part of the Forest Healthcare group of homes, which includes 12 individual homes throughout the South East of England. For more information on Bridgeside Lodge, please visit www.foresthc.com or call 08444 725 175.

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