Newcastle residential home collects top social care award

Newcastle residential home collects top social care award

30 October 2019

A RESIDENTIAL home in Newcastle run by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has won a top award for the third year in a row.

River House was awarded first place for the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust region at the Northern Ireland Amenity Council’s Best Kept Health and Social Care Facility Awards.

River House, which is situated at Central Promenade, was praised by judges for “maintaining its extremely high standard. The beautiful enclosed garden, which is adorned with an array of hanging baskets to give dramatic bursts of colour, is decorated with pottery made by the residents at their pottery classes.”

Explaining River House would have to bow out of the competition next year after winning the award three years running, home manager Stephanie Moore-Archer said: “We are really proud to have won this award again and we’ll put the money to another project involving the garden. We are excited for new ideas and will display the award with pride.

 “We have a well-kept enclosed garden with a beautiful view of the Mountains of Mourne. It also has easy access for wheelchairs and rotators with a path circling the garden, a fountain and a lovely summer house used by visitors and residents.”

Stephanie added that River House, named after the Glenn River, which runs nearby,  also has two free range hens. 

She said: “They have been with us for two years now and they provoke memories of childhood for the many country folk who are with us, especially our residents who have a diagnosis of dementia and respond well to animals.”