Brighton care home wins awards at national competition

It has been awarded ‘Innovation to Involve Residents,’ ‘Best Collaborative Hallmark in Bloom Project’ and ‘Bringing the Outside In’.

The home, which offers residential, dementia and nursing care and was praised for its ‘innovative project which bought the whole home together to move towards a shared aim’ which ‘evoked the passion and interest of every resident.’

The Hallmark in Bloom competition first established in 2003, encourages residents and the local community to get involved in gardening, be it by planting pots or simply sitting in the garden and joining in with the conversation. This year, due to current circumstances the homes were judged virtually rather than in person.

Team members were also asked to send in a five-minute video of their beautiful garden prior to the virtual judging. The videos included socially-distanced interviews with residents, team members and a walk around of the stunning outdoor areas.

This year, Maycroft Manor brought the outside in, enlisting the help of the local community to collect 2,000 crocheted, knitted, painted, wooden and real flowers to decorate the home and the resident’s bedrooms.

General manager at Maycroft Manor Care Home, Ian Cole said: “We are all absolutely delighted to be the winners of three awards at the annual Hallmark in Bloom competition, a first for us.

“The team were extremely innovative, adapting their original plans due to the current environment to make sure that residents remain able to connect with nature and the outdoors whilst indoors.

“We are so thankful for those who donated flowers for our 2,000 flowers campaign and overwhelmed by the amazing response of our residents, their families and the local community who

all worked so hard to contribute to our campaign, providing interest and creating joy for everyone lucky enough to see them.

“A special thanks to Lifestyles Team Leader Emily and Hospitality Services Manager Ian, who were instrumental in reaching the community and making the home look amazing.”

Entrants were judged on resident and community involvement, innovation in their garden areas and the overall garden experience.

April Dobson, head of relationship-centred care at Hallmark said: “Maycroft’s 2000 flowers campaign is a work of pure genius. It is such a creative and innovative approach that engages

everyone.

“I have never seen such an amazing variety of hand-made flowers. The way they adapted their plans due to the COVID outbreak to make sure that residents remain able to connect with nature and the outdoors in a very different way is to be applauded.”

Maycroft Manor Care Home is part of Hallmark Care Homes, the award-winning care provider established in 1997 with 20 care homes across England and Wales. Hallmark Care Homes’ registered nurses and trained carers are highly qualified and take pride in delivering 23 years of excellent relationship-centred care. Maycroft Manor Care Home provides residential, dementia and nursing care.

For further information please visit www.hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk