A NURSE has won a national award for her work with dementia patients at a North East care home.

Debby Lamont, from Richmond, won a BUPA Award for innovation in person centred care for a project that encouraged people with dementia to cook together and share old recipes to improve their well-being and social interaction.

Ms Lamont earned a first class honours degree in dementia studies from Bradford University while working as head of care and quality at Middleton Hall Retirement Village, near Darlington.

She created the Recipe for Success project as part of her final dissertation.

The mother-of-two also created a Family Living service at Middleton Hall, where a small group of residents, who generally have dementia, live together and actively participate in daily household tasks, such as helping to prepare meals.

During baking sessions residents were asked what they used to bake and their recipes and memories were brought to the baking sessions. Families also helped by jotting down memories about their loved ones baking on post it notes.

Ms Lamont said: “Our residents with dementia live in a family environment and they do the things that they would have done at home. Recipe for Success is about ensuring that residents are at the centre of the activity.

“It was really rewarding to see them join in. We watched their confidence grow when we gently prompted them and it enabled them to remain in control which is important.”

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