UK's Care Home Idol winners announced

carehome.co.uk is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of its Care Home Idol competition.

The competition, which was designed to showcase the talent and fun that exists in UK care homes and to challenge ageist stereotypes came to a close this month. The competition was separated into two categories; entries from residents and staff at care homes and professional care home entertainers.

Winner for residents and staff category

The video, which came in first place for the residents and staff section (and with a large majority), was a Country Wide care home; Rose Lodge in Newton Aycliffe. The video showcased the talent of Gladys Stephens a resident at the home and Bev Temple, a staff member singing a duet ‘Are you Lonesome Tonight’ together.

Manager Karen McFrew told carehome.co.uk how Ms Stephens enjoyed singing, when the entry was submitted last year. On hearing the news that the pair had won, Ms Stephens (who turns 97 this year) said: “I am really pleased to have won the competition, It has been really good fun."

Rose Lodge Care Home’s video was a touching display of a strong bond between a member of care staff and a resident. It is not surprising that visitors to carehome.co.uk were touched by their performance.

Finalists for residents and staff category

The finalists for the care staff and residents category were; ‘Mayflower's Got Talent’by residents and staff at Mayflower Care Home, ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ by The Woodleigh Warblers at Woodleigh Christian care home and the Anchor community band performing their charity single ‘See Yourself'.

Alan Sheldon, the owner of Mayflower Care Home said: “There is a really special bond at Mayflower between the residents and the staff and we are very lucky to have such a dedicated team who go the extra mile for our clients, the whole project was a joint idea and we had so much fun making the video and even more watching it online. There is a bit of a stigma surrounding care homes but hopefully Care Home Idol will go some way to counteracting these opinions. Thank you to the guys at carehome.co.uk for coming up with such a great idea. The residents and staff are already getting their heads together to come up with something really creative for next year’s competition so that we can go one step further and become the 2014 Care Home Idol!!”.

John Walton, owner at Woodleigh Care Home who warbled their way to third place said: “We are immensely proud of the recognition the Woodleigh Warblers have received following our application to Care Home Idol, we have been blessed with so much love support and encouragement from our friends, families and our local community.

“As a home we will hold a special performance for all who have voted for us and supported us throughout the competition, we may even have a glass of bubbly! As a choir we will continue to meet each week, practicing and developing our catalogue of songs and hope to bring a smile to the faces of each of our members.

“We think Care Home Idol as a competition is fantastic, we feel it is recognition from the wider community for the people often over looked, recognition and praise for the achievements of our residents who have a variety of limitations.... going to show that community spirit, fun and laughter can overcome many aches and pains.”

Vanessa Pryor, Band Manager for the Anchor Community Band said: “It is fantastic that the band came in fourth place. All of our residents had such fun recording the song and filming the video last year. Care Home Idol is a fantastic competition which shows just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can’t have fun which is what our song “See Yourself” is all about.

“The Anchor Community Band was put together at the beginning of last year, the band consists of over 350 older people all over England. Our aim was for everyone to have fun, we released the song last June and made it into the Indie Charts at number 17 which was a great achievement for us.” Winner of the entertainers’ category

From the entertainers’ category, the winner was who performed a medley of songs for his video entry. Mr Shaw prides himself on his mixture of songs and performances with something for everyone.

He said: “I was very excited when I first saw that carehome.co.uk was holding a competition for entertainers. There is not generally much recognition for people in our industry who do this type of work.

“To be voted the best at what I do is a real honour, but it’s especially wonderful when votes come from staff and relatives of residents who have seen the show.

“My job has to be one of the best jobs in the world. Touring the country making people happy. It doesn’t get any better than that.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to all the care home managers and staff who have supported me, and who look after me and make me feel so welcome every time I arrive at their home.”

Finalists for the entertainers’ category

The second finalist in the entertainers’ category was Aimi Percival ( ), whose video encompassed the idea behind care home idol – fun and a great atmosphere evident in a care home. Her video performed in Newgrange Residential Care Home in Hertfordshire showed residents singing along and dancing. Ms Percival said: “I am very pleased; the whole thing has been a nice experience - to get awareness for people who are not directly related to care homes to see what goes on there.

“I do lots of performances all over and not just in care homes. But care home entertainment; I genuinely feel I will always do because they get so much out of it.

“Well done to the winner! And well done to everyone at carehome.co.uk for making it happen. What a good idea! I hope there will be more…”

also a finalist said: “I really enjoyed watching all the entries and did a lot of voting myself on other entries as I thought there were many lovely ones – great variety and loved seeing just how much entertainment goes on in homes up and down the country. It was great to see the residents having fun and entering along with their carers, great fun for all I would say. I think it was a great idea and hope you run it again next year – it was great to be able to share it onto the likes of Facebook and Twitter, well done guys.”

Care Home Idol had the backing of MP Tracey Crouch, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia. MP Penny Mordaunt, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ageing and Older People also backed the initiative describing it as: “great fun and a good excuse for a knees-up in homes around the country.

“There is rightly much focus on the care system when things go wrong, but we should remember that there are also some wonderful homes out there where residents are supported to pursue their hobbies and talents, while being engaged and entertained.”

Davina Ludlow, director of carehome.co.uk said:

“Firstly I would like to congratulate everyone who submitted a video to Care Home Idol.

I have been so pleased to see so many entertainers and care homes get involved and it has been great fun for us here at carehome.co.uk to watch everyone’s videos; some of which have been heart-warming and some funny but which have all showcased some excellent talent.

To the overall winners, Gladys and Bev and Brian, a special well done to you! I hope you enjoy spending your prize money but I also hope that all our contestants will continue to sing and perform! Entertainment brings so much happiness to older people.”

All eight Care Home Idol finalists will receive an award trophy. The two winners of each category will receive a plaque and £500 each.