March care home’s transformational dementia care recognised as ‘Gold Standard’
A March care home has had the quality of its dementia care rated ‘gold standard’ because of the impact it’s having on residents’ lives.
Aria Court care home on Coronation Close in Town End was awarded the two gold star accreditation by NaDCAS, the National Dementia Care Accreditation Scheme, for its broad range of innovative activities that meet the varied needs of its residents who live with dementia.
Among them is former forklift driver, Paul Huggins. He moved into the home in 2025 and struggled to find the confidence to come out of his room. Through gentle encouragement and activities that tapped into his creativity, he’s discovered new skills and made friends.
“I love gardening and the Happy Potters Club here is brilliant because I can get out and plant hanging baskets and look after the flower beds,” said Paul. “The team took the time to understand that I like being practical, and they arranged for me to do some carpentry and have a go at crochet! I never thought crochet would be my thing, but I’ve loved that, and macrame! It’s all helped me feel at home here.”
Around 70% of care home residents are estimated to have dementia or severe memory problems. Aria Court has worked hard to develop an environment where its residents living with the condition can thrive. Hannah Mulholland, Head of Lifestyle and Community Engagement, said their activities are designed to engage people whatever their ability.
“Dementia comes in many different forms and each person’s experience of it is unique,” she said. “Our care offers something for everyone. For example, we can build interaction through the senses, whether that’s time spent stroking our house rabbit, Daisy, walking through crunchy autumn leaves or enjoying the intense cold of an ice cream.
“We have memory boxes full of items that fit a theme like summer or childhood that residents can touch and talk about. For those who enjoy practical activities like Paul, we have Fix It Friday with our maintenance manager or they can get involved with tasks they did at home like loading the dishwasher. The familiarity of doing these things gives them comfort and also a sense of purpose.”
Resident Glenda Ethridge had enjoyed a career as a ballerina. Her love of performing was given an outlet by the team who supported her to spend time on the home’s reception desk, welcoming visitors and handing out brochures, which she proudly does in her uniform.
“The change in Glenda has been significant,” said Home Manager, Sreeja Vijayan. “From someone who kept to herself and stayed in her room, she’s now confident, involved, and a familiar face to anyone walking through the door.”
Aria Court offers residential, nursing and respite care alongside its dementia care and is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission across all five categories. It’s one of seven homes run by Athena Care which have all achieved NaDCAS accreditation.
Aria Court was also recognised for its dementia-friendly environment with clear wayfinding to enable residents to move around independently, and smart speakers complete with instructions and activity suggestions. Cutlery-free dining has been introduced so residents who can’t sit still can eat on the move, and bursts of music at key times through the day signpost daily events like mealtimes, supporting residents in negotiating their daily activities.
The report highlighted the home’s community involvement and residents engaging with “schools, churches, volunteers, veterans’ groups, football clubs and wider community projects”. It also praised Aria Court for its wellbeing culture being a “clear strength” and team members being “kind, patient and caring towards residents”.
“Achieving a gold standard with NaDCAS usually takes 18 months,” said Sreeja, “but my team went from a ‘pass’ to the highest rating in just eight. The real reward for us, however, is what it means for our residents. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their home and have a good quality of life and when we can see them enjoying every day, that’s the greatest achievement.”