Going for gold – Gateshead care home shortlisted for two national awards

A care home in Gateshead is celebrating after being shortlisted for two national awards.

The team at Care UK’s Armstrong House, on Lobley Hill Road, is in the running for ‘Activities Team of the Year’ and ‘Regional Care Home of the Year’ at the Caring UK Awards. 

 

The Caring UK Awards celebrate excellence across the care sector, and highlight the outstanding contributions made by care home teams. 

Home Manager, Shirley Summerbell impressed the judges with the positive, nurturing atmosphere she has created at the home. Shirley has led by example, going above and beyond to ensure resident health and happiness during the pandemic. Her inspiring work ethic shines through everything she does, and her open-door policy is praised by other team members and relatives alike. 

During the pandemic, team members also went the extra mile to ensure life was made as normal as possible for residents. This included organising regular videocalls, and garden visits with relatives when restrictions were easing. Activities were also adjusted, with a highlight being a garden Christmas carol performance from a local school. 

Gianclaudio, the home’s Lifestyle Coordinator, impressed his colleagues with his resident-centred approach, delivering meaningful one-on-one activities to residents who were self-isolating or preferred to stay in their room. This included setting up a projector in a resident’s room so they could watch her favourite classic films together and sourcing Andre Rieu concert videos for a retired violin teacher. 

Shirley Summerbell, Home Manager at Armstrong House, said: “To be nominated for not just one, but two national awards, is an incredible feeling, and we were delighted to hear the news. 

“Every single individual has worked incredibly hard during the pandemic to maintain a sense of normality for residents, from our lifestyle coordinators and nurses to our chefs and support team – so I couldn’t be happier to see their commitment being rewarded. 

“We place residents at the heart of everything we do here at Armstrong House, from the way we’ve designed the home to the activities we organise on a daily basis. We’d like to say good luck to all the other care homes who were nominated, and we hope we’ll come away as the winners later this year!”

The Caring UK Awards ceremony will take place on 2^nd December.

Armstrong House provides full time residential and nursing care, as well as short term respite care. The home is designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives.

To find out more about Armstrong House care home, email Shirley Summerbell, Home Manager, at shirley.summerbell@careuk.com or call 0191 640 8616.

For more general information visit careuk.com/armstrong-house.