Care home provider promises to make residents' wishes come true

Hallmark Care Homes has pledged to make a wish come true for least one resident in every one of its 16 homes.

Over a thousand residents are taking part in the competition Lucky Star in which they make a wish however big or small and then display it on a Christmas tree within the home.

In the New Year, Hallmark Care Homes managing director, Avnish Goyal who was recently named ‘Care Personality of the Year’ at the National Care Awards, will look at all the wishes. The granted wishes will include at least one big wish per home as well as lots of smaller wishes.

Mr Goyal said: “We decided to launch this competition, because we wanted to give our residents an opportunity to do something or have something they thought they’d never get a chance to do again.

“It could be anything from seeing their favourite show in the West End to visiting their place of birth or a long lost relative. It is also a great reminiscence activity, particularly for our residents who live with dementia.

“All of our residents get Christmas presents from Hallmark on Christmas Day, but by getting to know what they would really like to do or have, gives us an opportunity to truly enhance their happiness and make a difference.”

Residents' wishes currently on the Lucky Star tree range from asking for a box of homemade chocolates to wanting to have tea at the Ritz with their family in London and travel by limousine.

Admiral Court Care Home in Essex is one of the homes taking part and the home’s customer relationship manager, Kelly Adams is helping to co-ordinate the residents’ wishes. Ms Adams said: “We are very excited to make some of these wishes come true for our residents. Since we have encouraged our residents to think of a wish, we have found out some great things about them, which we would never have known.

“Whatever wishes we cannot grant, we will take a note of and look at making the wish come true either on the resident’s birthday, or Pay It Forward Day in April, which encourages individuals to take part in a random act of kindness.”

Two wishes came true recently for Hallmark's managing director Avnish Goyal and nurse Sue Povey when they won awards at the National Care Awards

Care Personality of the Year award

Mr Goyal was awarded the title of ‘Care Personality of the Year’.

On winning the award, Avnish Goyal, who is the chair of Care England, said: I am delighted to have won this award and for the sector to have felt that I was worthy of winning this prestigious title. I will continue to live up to their expectations.”

Mr Goyal was also recognised at this year’s Health Investor Power Fifty Awards, where he was named 10th out of 50 of the UK’s most influential health care leaders.

Care Registered Nurse award

Sue Povey, a nurse, from Greenhill Manor, a Hallmark care home in Merthyr, also won the ‘Care Registered Nurse’ award.

She was also recognised internally at this year’s Hallmark Care Homes company awards ceremony, where she was named ‘Nurse of the Year’ out of 500 entries.

Sue Povey said: “I still can’t believe I have won this award. When I got the call, I was very emotional. I feel as if I haven’t just achieved something for myself, but for my team in the young physically disabled unit and my home Greenhill Manor.

“I wouldn’t have won this award without their support and nomination.” A panel of judges interviewed Sue and Avnish last month before coming to their decision.

Entrants were judged on their contribution to the long-term care sector, their clinical and managerial qualities and their dedication and advocacy for their residents.

The judging panel of the National Care Awards said: “Sue was able to demonstrate, a warm relationship-based approach, combined with superb clinical practice in a community of people with complex needs.

“Avnish had commitment, outstanding energy and enthusiasm for the sector. His infectious personality is reflected in the way he engages with his own workforce and also the sector as a whole.”

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