Weybridge care home shortlisted for national award

A care home in Weybridge is celebrating after being shortlisted in the Care Home Awards 2023.

Care UK’s Norfolk House, on Portmore Park Road, has been shortlisted in the ‘Best for Wellbeing’ category, which recognises individual homes who have an innovative and exceptional approach to improving residents’ wellbeing. 

The Care Home Awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in UK care home management, operation and delivery. The winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony in June.

The home has been shortlisted for its home-wide approach to Namaste care. ‘Namaste’ is a Hindu greeting meaning ‘to honour the spirit within’, reflecting the person-centred approach at the heart of the scheme.

The home initially adopted Namaste as a lifestyle therapy for residents living with advanced dementia. After seeing how the Namaste programme reduced resident’s anxiety and improved their nutrition and hydration, the team at Norfolk House made the care available to all residents, with relatives encouraged to take part in its delivery.

The care is delivered in a specially designed Namaste room which features mood lighting and soft furnishings. The programme is focused around the five senses and is delivered on a one-to-one basis within a larger group, to encourage social interaction. 

Activities during the sessions include hand and foot massages, music therapy, themed sensory and movement sessions, or simply chatting to encourage reminiscence all take place in the relaxing setting created within the namaste room. Team members have undergone rigorous training in order to host Namaste care sessions.

Commenting on the Namaste care programme, one resident’s relative said: “I have noticed that my Mum appears far more relaxed in her demeanour. The agitation that was there at times previously appears to have gone away. This extends into her periods of sleep where she is very peaceful without the bouts of jitters that would happen occasionally. Overall, these sessions have been tremendously uplifting for June and I would like to thank the team members for their positive and professional approach to the delivery of Namaste.”

Sabu Prothasis, Home Manager at Norfolk House, said: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted in the ‘Best for Wellbeing’ category at this year’s Care Home Awards for our Namaste care. 

“Namaste care is a valued and important part of life here at Norfolk House. It is wonderful to see first-hand the benefits it has for residents each day, and to hear such positive feedback from the residents and their relatives. 

“I am very proud of the team for their passion, sensitivity, and dedication when they deliver Namaste care, and pleased to see this has been recognised nationally. I couldn’t be prouder of all we have achieved – winning would be the icing on the cake!”

Norfolk House care home has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and offers the highest standards of care, including residential, nursing and dementia care.

For more information, please call Home Manager, Sabu Prothasis, on 0333 4343 061, or email sabu.prothasis@careuk.com 

For general information about Norfolk House, visit careuk.com/norfolk-house