Newcastle care home wins south eastern prize in top awards

Newcastle care home wins south eastern prize in top awards

27 September 2017

A NEWCASTLE care home has won an award in the annual Best Kept awards in Northern Ireland.

River House, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s (PCI) residential home for older people, has won first prize in the Northern Ireland Amenity Council’s 2017 Best Kept Health and Social Care Facility Awards for the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust region.

The award recognises the staff and residents of health care facilities who showcase their dedication and pride in their workplace or residential care homes by improving their surroundings.

PCI’s Residential and Support Services Manager, Linda Wray said the organisation is delighted that River House has been recognised in this way and congratulated the residents and staff in their wonderful achievement.

“We strongly believe that the outside environment of our care homes can be places of peace and calm, used for the benefit of our residents and an important part of their care, especially the dementia gardens that we have in three of our homes,” she said. 

“All gardens can be used to stimulate the senses and enhance independence, particularly for those who have always enjoyed gardening and I am so pleased that River House has been recognised in this way,” she said.

River House manager, Miriam Chambers, said it was great news. 

“Having been the runners up for two years in a row it is wonderful to win this time round. The residents have put in such a lot of hard work with a lot of planting, including the window boxes, so it is all down to them, their hard work, creativity and effort.

 “The garden is lovely to have and is enjoyed in nearly all weathers. The residents use it as much as possible, including the raised vegetable beds, which are well tended by them. We also have a garden house which they have just renamed the Shady Nook. We are all really pleased at today’s news.”