Appleby House celebrates national award nomination

Home news

Nov 08, 2018

A team member at Appleby House is celebrating after being nominated as dementia care manager of the year in the National Care Awards. 

Shona Bradbury, home manager at Care UK’s Appleby House on Longmead Road has been shortlisted alongside four other finalists in the national competition.

Now in its twentieth year, the National Care Awards is the longest established annual awards and is organised by social care’s leading publication, Caring Times. 

During her 30-year-career, Shona has progressed from care assistant to home manager, influencing the culture, atmosphere and quality of service that she and her team provides. Team members at Appleby House have praised Shona’s boundless energy, creativity and good sense of humour, which helps to create an inclusive environment where residents and colleagues thrive.

Shona has transformed the approach to care of residents living with dementia at Appleby House, with art therapy sessions, intergenerational partnerships with local community groups, gardening projects and regular live music performances.

To ensure residents living with dementia lead fulfilled lives, Shona has collaborated with local dementia awareness group, Purple Angels, and art session group, Creative Minds, to provide residents with innovative artistic and musical activities with therapeutic benefits. Creative art therapy, such as painting, dancing, or crafts, can be incredibly beneficial for those struggling with memory loss, as well as helping to improve motor skills, relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem and confidence.

Team members recognised her creative and innovative thinking style when solving problems. For example, when thinking of ways to reduce falls in the home, Shona identified that people often have trouble knowing which walking aid is theirs and often forgot to use it all together. Shona created the concept of the ‘A-star frame’ whereby residents’ zimmers were personalised so they always knew which was theirs and could easily recognise it.   

Speaking about Shona’s approach to care, activities coordinator Jacqueline Dye, said: “Shona has so much energy and charisma, you can feel it throughout the home – especially her laugh which seems to echo into every corner of the home, and the residents love her for it! 

“She is a very optimistic and ambitious person, always looking for new ideas and ways to enhance the residents’ lives. Her positive nature never fails to lift you and she really inspires the team to go the extra mile.” 

When asked about the award Shona said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for this award, and I can’t thank my team enough for the constant support they give to me and the residents here at Appleby House.

“I thoroughly enjoy my job and find it very rewarding, so to be recognised for my efforts is a fantastic feeling – but certainly not something I expected. I look forward to the ceremony and will keep my fingers crossed I can bring home a win for Appleby House!”