Worcester care home celebrates two awards for dementia expertise

A care home in Worcester is celebrating after scooping two prestigious awards. 

Home Manager, Katherine Matthews, at Care UK’s Perry Manor, on Charles Hastings Way, took first place in the ‘Nursing Older People’ category in the RCN Nursing Awards. 

 

Working closely with Katherine, Suite Manager, Donna White, has been awarded ‘The Dementia Carer Award’ in the Worcestershire Health and Social Care Awards 2022.

These awards recognise the most talented professionals in the care sector who have made an outstanding contribution, and whose pioneering projects have improved the health and wellbeing of older people and overall patient care.

Katherine and Donna’s combined dedication to improving the lives of those living with dementia, combined with over 55 years of shared expertise, has led to them establishing the home’s specialist dementia service. Katherine was inspired to change things when she saw the lack of dementia services available in Worcester, proposing an innovative local alternative to facilitate the highest standard of care for those living with dementia. Donna is a crucial part of the management team at Perry Manor and keeps the complex dementia suites operating smoothly, running regular in-house specialist dementia training workshops.

The home’s tailored dementia service has enhanced the lives of the residents and their families beyond measure. Back in 2021, meetings with local clinical commissioning groups highlighted the vital need for a local service to care for those with neurological challenges and mental health needs. To avoid further residents being moved outside of their county, Katherine was determined to provide a local home-from-home alternative and Donna was integral in its development.

With 25 years’ experience as a qualified mental health nurse and extensive experience in older adult psychiatry, Katherine set out to reinvent the dementia service and created a more holistic mental health service all from the homely setting of Perry Manor. 

Katherine and Donna’s vision has seen Perry Manor create the Malvern Suite, which caters for up to 14 people who require higher individual levels of care, with the team continually working to reduce residents’ anxiety and distressed behaviour. 

Praised by the whole team for their continued approachability and work ethic, Katherine and Donna are valued greatly at the home. Their combined understanding of how to deliver the best care to those with dementia, paired with the natural ability to lead and help those around them to learn and progress, has made the pair truly indispensable.

Donna added: “I am delighted that Perry Manor’s commitment to our dementia services has been singled out.”

Nicola Cahill, Regional Director for Perry Manor, added: “We are thrilled to see Perry Manor take home not one but two dementia awards this year – congrats to you both!

“Katherine and Donna are extremely passionate about residents and ensuring that those with additional needs are cared for in the best way possible. They are a force to be reckoned with, bringing a unique blend of expertise and skills in the care sector, inspiring others to raise the bar too – we are so lucky to have you both and a huge congrats from us all of us at Perry Manor for your truly deserved wins!”

Perry Manor is a state-of-the-art Care UK home, which provides full time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short term respite care. Rated outstanding by the CQC, the home is designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema, cafe and hair salon, with plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation.

To find out more about Perry Manor, please call Customer Relations Manager, Shilpa Odedra, on 01905 886 715, or email shilpa.odedra@careuk.com.

For more general information about Perry Manor, visit careuk.com/perry-manor