CREATIVE staff and residents at a Great Missenden care home have landed an award for the unique decorations they've come up with.

Signposts of familiar landmarks along the corridors at the Woodlands Park Care Home help residents suffering from dementia find their way around, creating a safer environment.

A beach hut and beach in the garden of the home's Victorian house also impressed the judges from Buckinghamshire County Council, who presented staff with a Dignity and Wellbeing in Care award this week.

Centre manager Marie Shouler said: "This award recognises not only the high quality of care provided by the care team here at Woodlands Park, but also the hard work put in by our dementia sufferers, who are involved in the whole process of creating the safe, friendly and welcome environment that supports them with their condition.

"From the beach hut in the garden – which also doubles as a wonderful grotto in December – to the way corridors are named and decorated with familiar street names and paintings of landmarks, to give clients focal points to help them locate their rooms, we have worked closely with residents and their families to create an environment which help minimise the debilitating confusion that can so often leave those with dementia in a very distressed state.

"We know how difficult it can be for families who are caring for someone with dementia to consider finding residential care – or even respite care – for their loved ones, so we have worked extremely hard to ensure that life in the centre is focused around them - a place where they can feel valued, safe and treated with dignity."

The home, which cares for up to 28 residents, was also highly recommended in other categories of the awards that recognised improvements made in the wellbeing of clients and staff.

Residents, their families and staff celebrated the win with a party featuring live entertainment and a balloon release this week.

John Glanfield, whose wife Margaret is one of the residents at Woodlands Park said: "In 93 years, I’ve seen a lot of places, and I have to say that Woodlands Park is ‘it’.  I come here almost every day to be with Margaret.  The care here is supreme, it is so lovely.  You can feel the atmosphere."