Ipswich care home shortlisted for national award

A care home in Ipswich is celebrating after being shortlisted in the Care Home Awards 2022. 

Care UK’s Prince George House, on Mansbrook Boulevard, has been shortlisted in the ‘Best for Nutrition, Food and Dining’ category, which recognises the efforts of a care home team in improving nutrition and hydration in older people.

 

The Care Home Awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in UK care home management, operation and delivery. The winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony in July. 

The team at Prince George House has been recognised for their integrated approach to dining, nutrition and hydration, which offers a holistic attitude to resident care plans. As well as providing a daily menu, with options for residents to choose from, the home’s Head Chef, Caroline Lloyd, also prepares show plates for those living with dementia. These show a sample of the meals on offer, so that they can choose what they fancy rather than ordering in advance, where they may change their mind. If a resident does not fancy either option, the catering team also prepare alternative choices, such as jacket potatoes, salads, or omelettes. 

The chefs also work closely with carers to create meal action plans. Some residents living with a certain type of dementia find it hard to maintain their weight, with changes in their tastebuds meaning that some food may no longer seem as appealing. To combat this, the kitchen team make nutritious smoothies with full fat milk, or mash potato with extra butter, to help boost calorie intake, and offer snacks throughout the day for residents to help themselves to independently. 

Judges also commended the creative routes to ensuring residents stay hydrated, from ‘hydration ping pong’, a game similar to beer pong, but with soft drinks, to creating jelly sweets filled with liquid. Similar concepts have been applied to food, with residents taking part in baking activities or helping with food preparation, which can stimulate appetite. 

The team also encourage residents to try new meals by hosting ‘around the world’ themed culinary experiences, which have included cuisine from the Caribbean, Romania, Spain and Greece among others. Special menus are also prepared for occasions such as St Patrick’s Day, Bastille Day and St George’s Day. 

Last year, during the festive season, Head Chef, Caroline, even chose to give up her family Christmas and move into the home to ensure everyone was kept safe and she could be available to work. She lived in the day club for three weeks to ensure she would be infection-free and prepared 120 Christmas dinners for those living and working in the home on Christmas Day. The feast included a soup for starter, roast turkey, a mushroom wellington and even a choice of two desserts. 

Jennie Rodger, Home Manager at Prince George House, said: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted in the ‘Best for Nutrition, Food and Dining’ category at this years’ Care Home Awards.

“The kitchen team at Prince George House is second to none. They go above and beyond each day to provide the quality and choice of that in a fine-dining restaurant, while consistently coming up with creative and innovative ways to enhance the nutritional value and hydration of residents. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone at Prince George House who work incredibly hard to ensure residents lead fulfilling lives in all aspects. This is greatly appreciated by me, residents, and their relatives. Fingers crossed for July!”

Prince George House is a modern purpose-built care home providing full-time residential, nursing, and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has a choice of lounges and dining rooms, along with facilities such as an activity room, cinema and hair salon.

For more information about Prince George House, please contact Customer Relations Manager, Julie Dennis, on 01473 852964, email julie.dennis@careuk.com or visit: careuk.com/prince-george-house.