The Grove celebrates Regional Care Home of the Year Award

The Grove care home, owned and managed by Longhurst & Havelok Homes, is planning a big party for residents, staff, family and friends on 11 November to celebrate winning the North East regional award in the prestigious Yours magazine Care Home of the Year Awards 2009.

The award was created to celebrate the high standards provided by many homes and the extra mile staff members go to make a difference to older people’s lives.

Regular visitor and Care Board member, Margaret Abernethie, nominated The Grove: “Whenever I visit I find residents to be happy and content. It is set in beautiful grounds and every resident has their own flat.”

The Grove was recognised for its warm and friendly atmosphere, the commitment and quality of staff and for the range of activities available for residents to enjoy.

Yours magazine, the fortnightly magazine designed for over 55s, has a readership of almost 700,000 and recognises that, whilst care of older people often receives negative press, there are a lot of good quality care homes in the UK. Celebrity judges, including Linda Bellingham and Fiona Phillips, joined Reader Care Editor Rosie Sandall in looking for ‘homes that treated residents with dignity, as individuals and provided excellent accommodation and activities.’

All the finalists were treated to an unannounced visit by Rosie, who said “If anyone thinks life in a care home is boring and that meals are like school dinners then they should think again.”

The Grove care home manager, Suzanne Near, said: “We’re delighted with winning the Yours magazine award, especially as the magazine is read by people that might be making the difficult choice of looking for residential care for one of their relatives or even themselves. This is excellent recognition for all the team’s hard work.”

Robin Barr, Director of Operations, Care and Support, added: “These types of awards are important in helping people recognise that care homes can not only be excellent places to live, with plenty of help and support but they are also fun and have a lot of events and activities for residents, friends and families to enjoy.”

Yours magazine has received Government backing for its campaign to highlight good homes with Phil Hope, Care Services Minister, praising the publication for its nationwide support of carers: “This competition has proved what we in Government know, that most care homes do provide excellent care.”