Charnwood Lodge celebrates 15 years

Dumfries care home Charnwood Lodge celebrated its 15^th Anniversary this weekend, bringing together the people they support, their loved ones, staff and members of the community with a special event to mark this important milestone.

Charnwood Lodge is home to 60 older people with age-related needs and dementia, and is part of national social care charity Community Integrated Care. The care home’s 15^th anniversary party featured show-stopping displays from local cheerleading dance troupe DG Cheer, as well as beautiful performances from local opera singer Caitlin Bell.

People supported at Charnwood Lodge also took part in the festivities, with some of the home’s longest serving residents cutting the celebratory cake and unveiling a special plaque that will forever honour the occasion.            

The event marked the conclusion of a full refurbishment project, which has seen the home introduce adaptations and technologies to become a more dementia-friendly environment. Thanks to the work of tireless volunteer Archie Potts, the home’s gardens have also been renovated, to provide the people supported at Charnwood Lodge with a therapeutic and relaxing outdoor environment.

In recent months, Charnwood Lodge has had plenty more to celebrate, after being recognised for its high quality of care. In 2013, Home Manager Wais Zamani was shortlisted at the Great North East Care Awards, for the Care Home Manager Award. Earlier this year, Charnwood Lodge featured in a special report on ITV Borders on dementia, after forming an innovative partnership with The NHS Dumfries and Galloway Interventions for Dementia: Education, Assessment and Support (IDEAS) team. This partnership has seen the IDEAS team deliver specialist training to Charnwood Lodge staff, and provide expert advice and guidance on dementia-friendly environments to support the home’s refurbishment.

Julie Cowen, Regional Manager at Community Integrated Care, says: “Today’s celebrations have been the perfect way to mark such an important day for Charnwood Lodge. For the past 15 years, the service has been providing excellent care and support to the people of Dumfries, and this anniversary is fitting of such a joyous day.”

“The team is dedicated to continuously improving their standards of support and ensuring each person lives the most full and happy life they can. Their contribution, both today and every day, is worthy of celebration.”