Blooming marvellous! Aberdeen care home wins national award

Home news

Sep 16, 2020

A care home in Aberdeen is celebrating after winning at a national awards ceremony. 

Care UK’s Tor-Na-Dee, on North Deeside Road, brought home gold in the ‘Best for Garden or Outdoor Space’ category at the Care Home Awards, thanks to its creation of a calming community space enjoyed by both residents and team members.

An annual celebration, the Care Home Awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in UK care home management, operation and delivery, and this year took place virtually. 

Known for its beneficial impact on the health and wellbeing of older people, fresh air and nature forms an important part of life at Tor-Na-Dee, and residents are encouraged to spend time enjoying the great outdoors. With a summer house, wide paths and even chickens, the home’s garden offers a variety of areas for residents and team members to enjoy, bringing joy, fun and meaningful activities to life at the home. 

Tor-Na-Dee also has a dedicated sensory garden, created specifically to increase the health and wellbeing of those living with dementia. Designed by a landscape architect, the garden, which opened four years ago, offers a relaxing and soothing retreat for those living with the condition. Complete with sensory plants, soothing lighting, a fountain and a variety of seating areas, the garden is located next to the dementia suite, making it the perfect outdoor extension for team members to take residents for a calming stroll. 

The community aspects of the garden’s creation also made the care home stand out against the tough competition. Since the home was built in 2008, the impressive outdoor space has been created and maintained by team members, relatives and those living in the community. Whether donating time, resources or thoughtful ideas, each area of the garden is underpinned by generosity, kindness and community spirit.

As part of its commitment to supporting residents to lead active and fulfilling lives, Tor-Na-Dee also has a two-person supported bike, which residents received in celebration of Care UK’s Ride 800 event in 2019, which saw three Care UK directors’ cycle 800 miles across the UK. Residents are supported to relive their cycling memories by getting back in the saddle and enjoy gentle cycles with members of the Tor-Na-Dee team. 

Maureen Barrett, home manager at Tor-Na-Dee, said: “We are delighted to have won in the ‘Best for Garden or Outdoor Space’ category in the Care Home Awards. 

“This award is testament not only to the team’s hard work and innovative thinking to ensure every resident leads a happy and fulfilling life, but to those in the community who have helped us to create and maintain a welcoming outdoor space for all.

“The outdoor space has provided a haven, especially over the last few months, for both residents and team members alike. We’re incredibly grateful for the support of local people, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the community back into Tor-Na-Dee as soon as we are safely able.”

“Residents are at the heart of everything we do, and I’m very proud of the environment we’ve created here at Tor-Na-Dee.”

Tor-Na-Dee has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite and palliative care.

To find out more about Tor Na Dee care home, call 0333 4343 082 or email home manager, Maureen Barrett, at maureen.barrett@careuk.com

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/tor-na-dee