Dumfries Care Home on ITV News

Dumfries care home Charnwood Lodge, was featured on the ITV Border Lookaround News last week, in a special report about dementia to mark World Mental Health Awareness Week.

 Charnwood Lodge is a specialist care home, which supports 60 older people with age-related needs, including dementia.

The feature, which was broadcast at 6pm on 14^th May, saw ITV reporter Lori Carnochan visit the home to discover how with its specialist support, residents live full and happy lives.

In the feature, Lori met two relatives of residents at the home, husband and wife – Neil and Gwen Cockayne, to discuss their experiences. Neil and Gwen described the difficult challenges of caring for a person with dementia, and how the support of Charnwood Lodge has improved their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Gwen told Lori that that since moving to the home her brother, “Always seems happy and content, so I have no worries about him at all.”

The report also featured contributions from staff members at the home. Senior Support Worker, Kerry Higgins, said: “A diagnosis of dementia doesn’t have to be the be all and end all. There is a lot that we can do, and many resources that can be accessed, to ensure that people with dementia enjoy a good quality of life.”

Lori described in the feature how Charnwood Lodge has been “commended for its high level of care”. The home was recently recognised at the Scotland and North East regional final of The Great British Care Awards when its manager, Wais Zamani, was shortlisted for the Care Home Registered Manager Award.

The home was selected to appear in the programme after forming an innovative partnership with The NHS Dumfries and Galloway Interventions for Dementia: Education, Assessment and Support (IDEAS) team. The IDEAS team, who were also featured in the report, have provided specialist training to Charnwood’s staff and offered advice and guidance to support a major refurbishment of the home, transforming it into a more dementia-friendly living environment.

Home Manager, Wais Zamani, says: “It was an incredible honour for Charnwood Lodge to be selected for this important feature. Dementia is challenging condition, but, with the right support, people who live with it can still enjoy full, happy and independent lives. I would like to commend Lori and ITV Borders for showcasing the best of care and highlighting this important issue.”

He adds, “On behalf of Community Integrated Care, I would also like to thank the NHS IDEAS team, who make a vital contribution to all of our care homes in the Dumfries and Galloway community. Their contribution and the hard work of our dedicated staff and volunteers, ensures that we are able to offer the highest standards of dementia care to all of our residents.”

To watch the feature online visit: http://bit.ly/cic_itv