Epsom care home named Care Home of the Year in Surrey

An Epsom care home is celebrating after being named Care Home of the Year in Surrey at a prestigious national ceremony.   

Care UK’s Appleby House, on Longmead Road, has proudly accepted the ‘Providers with Impact: Care Home of the Year Award’ at the Surrey Care Awards 2023. The awards, which were held at a prestigious awards ceremony in Dorking, recognise outstanding care homes across Surrey and celebrate the fantastic work of each home’s team members.

On the night, Appleby House was crowned the ‘Providers with Impact: Care Home of the Year’ Award, which recognises outstanding care homes committed to delivering excellent around-the-clock care. Judges praised the home for its fantastic relationships with the local community, including schools, places of worship, charities, and the local Mayor’s office. 

Judges highlighted the team at Appleby House for their strong emphasis on community involvement and the positive impact this has on residents. The home has formed strong relationships with local primary and secondary schools, and each week pupils are invited to take part in activities such as painting, pottery, poetry, and music with residents. 

The home was also applauded for their innovative events, which includes a yearly musical gala evening for local people, and the Home Manager, Shona Badbury, also sits on the steering group for Arts in Care Homes. Through this initiative, team members have taken part in an eleven-week course with Live Music Now to develop a residents’ choir. These activities have helped residents in improve communication and concentration skills, as well as providing an opportunity for everyone to make new friends and connections.

Shona Badbury, Home Manager at Appleby House, said: “We’re delighted to win the Providers with Impact: Care Home of the Year Award. Here at Appleby House, the team works hard to ensure that residents live healthy and fulfilling lives. One way we have achieved this is through activities and events that have a meaningful impact on residents – from choirs to arts workshops, there is always something to enjoy and experience here at Appleby House. 

“We work incredibly hard to create memorable experiences for the residents, and while we have seen the benefits of doing this first-hand, it is wonderful to receive this recognition. This is testament to the team’s dedication to encouraging residents to find their inner creativity and rediscover enjoyable hobbies that celebrate their past. 

“I am incredibly proud of the team for their consistent passion for delivering a whole range of activities and would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for making Appleby House a fantastic place to work and call home. The work you do is greatly appreciated by me, residents and their relatives. Well done everyone for this spectacular achievement!”

Appleby House has been designed to encourage residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while remaining as independent as possible in a safe environment. The modern care home provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care.