TV's Brave Alzhelmer's Campaigner Barbara Pointon MBE Honours Springhill with Personal Visit

A face familiar to millions of ITV viewers who watched the two ‘Malcolm and Barbara ‘ documentaries  depicting the real life heartbreak of Alzheimer’s Disease was welcomed to Accrington’s Springhill Care Home on June 14th

Barbara Pointon MBE - who lost her beloved husband Malcolm to the disease  -  shared her tragic personal experience once again with Springhill care staff,  just three weeks after  they won coveted Beacon status for  their end of life care.

Invited by the company’s chairman Ken Nolan, Barbara travelled from her home in Cambridge to give a invaluable insight into how to provide the very best personalised care for people with dementia.

Her moving, yet humorous speech is expected to shape dementia services at Springhill for years to come.

“From your Beacon status, I know the care in this home is going to be extremely good,” she told the Fairfield Street home’s workforce, before going on to tackle issues ranging from dealing with perplexing behaviour to bed sores.

“It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it!” added Barbara,  who is an  Ambassador for the Alzheimers Society and Admiral Nurses  as well as a member of the Standing Commission on Carers.

Afterwards Ken Nolan said Barbara’s speech from the heart had been” truly educational and inspirational.”

He added: “At Springhill we believe passionately in listening closely and carefully to anyone who can help us understand what we need to do to provide the very best quality care.”

“We always take the views of our residents and relatives and staff seriously as well as keeping up to date with new ideas from professional experts.”

“I’m proud to say – within just three weeks of achieving Gold Standards Framework Beacon Status for our end of life care  - that it has proved a successful formula.

“Nevertheless we’re not complacent.  We will continue to listen to anyone who can help us deliver the quality services we so pride ourselves on.  I cannot think of anyone better to listen to than Barbara.”

Her visit also created exciting new links with the Alzheimer’s Society.

Ken kickstarted Springhill’s support for the charity by presenting a cheque for £1,000 to Barbara on their behalf.  Various other events are  in the pipeline to raise funds  over the coming months.

  To view the article on the Carehome.co.uk website click on this link