A BARNARD Castle care home has been recognised for achieving the pinnacle in palliative care.
King’s Court earned the Gold Standard Framework (GSF) for the end-of-life care and facilities it offers.
Staff have worked hard for more than a year to achieve the award including introducing a Forget-Me-Not room for families to stay with a loved one when their time comes and more recently a Namaste room to provide calm and relaxing stimulation for those living with dementia.
Manager Hayley Coatsworth said the GSF programme had helped staff at the home deliver the best possible care for residents. She added: “We want to give them fulfilling lives and to deliver the best possible care when their time comes.”
She praised former manager Mitch Lloyd who had driven the course to the award before her retirement in June. Ms Lloyd was invited to unveil the gold award plaque which is on display at the home.
During the unveiling ceremony, which was attended by residents, district nurses and representatives of Barnard Castle Surgery, deputy manager Jules Coulthard said great teamwork by staff had led to the award.
She added: “The Gold Standard Framework is the highest accreditation of care that can be awarded to a care home for palliative and end-of-life care. As part of the GSF we developed our Forget Me Not Room and lately we have been very busy putting together our Namaste Room.
“Namaste is a person-centred therapeutic approach to promote and improve the quality of life of people in the late stages of dementia and towards the end of life.
“It can improve a person’s quality of life through personalised sensory moments that bring comfort and pleasure by engaging in touch, sight, sounds, smells and taste.”
Five members of staff at King’s Court have been trained to deliver this type of care, Ms Coulthard added.
