Hythe care home shortlisted for national award

A care home in Hythe is celebrating after being announced as a finalist for a prestigious national award.

Care UK’s Carpathia Grange, on Southampton Road, has been celebrating after being shortlisted for the Care Home Awards 2024.

The Care Home Awards recognise teams and individuals that epitomise excellence, innovation, dedication and outstanding contributions within the care sector. Judges were particularly impressed with Carpathia Grange, resulting in the home being shortlisted in the ‘Best for Nursing Care’ category. 

The home was praised for its passionate clinical care team who work hard to ensure those requiring nursing care are supported to lead fulfilling lives – removing barriers to engagement for those living with dementia and establishing a new standard for person-centered nursing care. Each resident receives a personal care plan, which records their specific likes and dislikes, needs and preferences, and is used to create an individualised approach to their care.

Judges also noted the team’s approach to inclusive and meaningful activities, and the way this has enhanced resident wellbeing. With varying capacity levels within the nursing suite, some residents take part in group activities, while others less mobile or with different needs are visited by the lifestyle team for one-to-one activity sessions. Activities are based around residents’ histories, hobbies and former occupations – for example, one resident has a passion for airplanes, and team members use this knowledge to have more meaningful conversations.

The home has also received internal accreditation of the UK’s only recognised benchmark for excellence in person-centered dementia care – Care Fit for VIPs. Through this programme, team members are trained in how to pick up non-verbal cues from those living with dementia who are unable to verbalise their needs. This framework is supported by regular PORT (person-centred observation tool) observations to ensure residents unable to make their needs known get additional support. Through one observation, the team found that a deaf resident was struggling to engage 

with an activity because she didn’t understand what was happening. By simply writing down the activity with participation cues, she was able to get involved and became highly engaged. Now, the team provides the resident with a written activity planner and prompt to ask if she would like to be involved. 

Nursing residents living with dementia also benefit from the home’s very own Namaste Care Hub, specifically designed for those living with advanced dementia. Namaste care is a specialised type of care, and training has resulted in positive outcomes for residents with low mood and complex dementia needs by helping them to become more relaxed. 

Commenting on the nursing team, one relative said: “As soon as my Mum arrived at Carpathia Grange, she began to improve. Esievo and his team have performed miracles. Having not been out of bed for six months, she now spends a significant portion of her day out of bed and is regularly involved in the wonderful activities organised by Carpathia Grange – all of the team make her feel valued and cared for. They are sensitive and responsive to her needs in every way.”

Pooja Dhoot, Home Manager at Carpathia Grange, added: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for the ‘Best for Nursing Care’ award at this year’s Care Home Awards.

“Here at Carpathia Grange, we work incredibly hard to ensure that residents can thrive and flourish whatever their needs, with the impact of our Namaste sessions, Care Fit for VIPs accreditation and considerate lifestyle activities all contributing to residents leading fulfilling lives and having improved wellbeing. 

“I am really proud of the team and what they achieve on a daily basis through their dedication, patience and passion for the residents. We are all keeping our fingers crossed for a win later this year!”

Carpathia Grange is a three-storey care home which provides residential, dementia and nursing care. The home features 62 en-suite bedrooms and has been designed to enable its residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.