Residents celebrate award win for dementia care at Woodlands Park Care Centre in Great Missenden

A beach hut and beach in the garden and corridors decorated with London landmarks were just two of the features designed and created by residents and staff at the Woodlands Park Care Home in Great Missenden, Bucks, that have earned the dementia care specialists a Dignity and Wellbeing in Care award from Buckinghamshire County Council.

Residents, their families and staff celebrated the win with a party yesterday (Thursday 6 March 2014), featuring live entertainment with singing and dancing, a party buffet and a balloon release to mark the achievement.

Woodlands Park Care Centre, which houses up to 28 clients in a Victorian house just outside the village of Great Missenden, was granted the award in recognition of the innovative initiatives that has resulted in joint working and excellence in the overall improvement of the wellbeing of residents with dementia.  Woodlands Park was also highly commended in another category in the awards, which recognised improvements in the wellbeing of both clients and staff, embedded into the culture of care.

“This award recognises not only the high quality of care provided by the care team here at Woodlands Park, but also the hard work put in by our dementia sufferers, who are involved in the whole process of creating the safe, friendly and welcome environment that supports them with their condition,” comments Marie Shouler, centre manager.  “From the beach hut in the garden – which also doubles as a wonderful grotto in December – to the way corridors are named and decorated with familiar street names and paintings of landmarks, to give clients focal points to help them locate their rooms, we have worked closely with residents and their families to create an environment which help minimise the debilitating confusion that can so often leave those with dementia in a very distressed state.”

Indeed, the quality of life for clients with dementia remains at the core of the services provided at Woodlands Park, whilst providing families with reassurance that the provision is secure.  Lifestyle co-ordinators follow the best practice training provided by the Altzheimer’s Society, with activities planned to keep clients mentally and physically active, making the most of every day – from art workshops and handicrafts to shopping and even surfing the internet!

“We know how difficult it can be for families who are caring for someone with dementia to consider finding residential care – or even respite care – for their loved ones, so we have worked extremely hard to ensure that life in the centre is focused around them; a place where they can feel valued, safe and treated with dignity,” adds Marie.  “Our staff treat all the clients with love, compassion and care, providing a supportive atmosphere that makes the transition from home into residential care much easier.”

The Woodlands Park team works closely with clients’ families, too.  Six of its rooms are ‘companion’ rooms, and family are welcome to visit at any time for as long as they visit – they can even bring their pets!

John Glanfield, whose wife Margaret, is resident at Woodlands Park Care Home, comments:

“In 93 years, I’ve seen a lot of places, and I have to say that Woodlands Park is ‘it’.  I come here every day almost to be with Margaret.  The care here is supreme, it is so lovely.  You can feel the atmosphere.”

Woodlands Park Care Home is part of Forest Healthcare, an independently owned group with care homes throughout the South East, including Belmont Lodge in Chigwell, Cedars in New Barnet, and The Grange Care Centre near Faringdon, Oxfordshire.

For more information, please visit www.foresthc.com, call Marie Shouler at Woodlands Park Care Centre on 08444 725 138 or email woodlandspark@foresthc.com

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Forest Healthcare operates 12 individual care homes, specialising in dementia and neurological rehabilitation services.  With Forest Healthcare’s management team all coming from clinical or care backgrounds, the focus of the company is entirely on providing the best possible environments to improve the lives of their clients and families, providing a safe and secure environment that motivates clients to live a full and happy life. 

For further media information, please contact:

Jay Commins or Samantha Orange

Pyper York Limited

Tel: 01904 500698

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