Balhousie Care Group's innovative steps to address dementia in its care homes have been recognised with two industry award shortlistings.

The Perth-based group, which consists of 25 care homes across Scotland, has been shortlisted in the Scottish Social Services Awards, which celebrate excellence in the sector.

Balhousie Care's Dementia Ambassador Program and the group's Clement Park care home in Dundee, which has created personalised environments for residents, have been shortlisted for their work in taking dementia care to a new level in care homes.
The Dementia Ambassador Program, which has been shortlisted in the Enlightened Approach category, has seen at least two staff members in every care home, plus head office staff, be active ambassadors for Balhousie Care's dementia strategy. The ambassadors gather regularly to share ideas and learn new techniques in supporting people with dementia on a day-to-day level in the care home. Their focus is on collaboration, providing what the people who live and work in the care home want, and has included interior design changes, the introduction of memory boxes and a multi-sensory therapy programme called Namaste Care.

Balhousie Clement Park, shortlisted in the ‘Living the Codes' category, has encouraged residents to decorate their own bedrooms and collaborate to create focal points around the home. Public areas include an indoor ‘dementia garden' with essential oils, bird music and bird and butterfly objects, and memory-stimulating areas with themes such as dancing, the seaside and a bar area. This collaboration has resulted in lots of different focal areas which support residents to have some reminiscence time, space to be on their own, and family time.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh on June 6th.

Yvonne Manson, dementia consultant with Balhousie Care Group and the person who has headed up the group's dementia strategy, said: "Both of the projects shortlisted in the awards are about collaboration and everyone working together. I am a firm believer in that being the best way to support positive change. I am incredibly proud of the team at Clement Park and the Dementia Ambassadors. It is excellent recognition for two years of hard work. They continually inspire me with their dedication and commitment to everyone in the Balhousie family."

www.balhousiecare.co.uk