A Devon care home group has clinched the highest honour from a global organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of care home residents.
Southern Healthcare received the Platinum Award from Eden Alternative UK for all four of their care homes in Exeter, Seaton, Dawlish and Plymouth.
Developed in 1994 by an American doctor, Bill Thomas, the Eden Alternative is a global organisation which aims to eradicate loneliness, helplessness and boredom in care homes.
This innovative philosophy of care prioritises the wellbeing of residents, team members and their families. Southern Healthcare teams at The Old Rectory in Exeter, The Seaton in Seaton, Sefton Hall in Dawlish, and Parkwood House in Plymouth are trained in Eden Alternative principles.
Geoffrey Cox, Southern Healthcare’s managing director and a board member of Eden Alternative UK, enthused:
“ I am proud of all the Southern Healthcare teams, who work with professionalism and compassion to ensure our residents live a life full of purpose and belonging in a homely environment. Receiving the Platinum Award for our four care homes is testament to the passion and commitment of our teams and the genuine relationships they build with our residents and their families.”
Validation of the care homes was carried out by Jacqui Arnold, an Eden Alternative principal trainer through a series of interviews with team members, residents and relatives along with surveys, audits and the gathering of photo-based evidence.
She said the care homes all demonstrated an exceptional standard of care across all of the validation criteria including the seven domains of wellbeing (identity, growth, security, connectedness, autonomy, meaning and joy).
In her report, Jacqui praised all four care homes for embracing the Eden philosophy and “enabling people to live their best possible lives”. She also recorded testimonials from relatives and residents.
A relative of a resident at The Old Rectory commented: “She loves the singing; the entertainment guys are so lovely. They have animals visiting – it is wonderful. I keep saying to people, sign me up!”
A team member at Sefton Hall explained they put a great deal of effort into finding out about people to help residents build connections over shared interests and former careers. She explained: “We tell relatives when their loved one moves in that they have joined the family. We try to support the family as much as we support the person living in the home.”