Redcot Care Home Celebrates Prestigious Unsung Hero Award Win

At Redcot, the Haslemere-based residential care home run by charity, Friends of the Elderly, the residents and care team have been celebrating with Ann Essam, one of the care home’s Activities Coordinators, who has just won the coveted ‘Unsung Hero – Making Care Possible’ Award at this year’s Surrey Care Awards.

Ann, who joined Friends of the Elderly in 2001, after she returned to work following her retirement, was presented with the esteemed award recently at the Surrey Care Awards which was held at Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking.

Ann said:

“When I heard my name being announced as the Winner, I was completely blown away. I couldn’t believe it. To be acknowledged by the Surrey Care Awards in front of my peers for doing the job that I adore doing was amazing – it still hasn’t quite sunk in. The residents are my friends – my family – so it’s not like working at all; I spend each day laughing and having fun with my friends.”

Ann returned to work after she’d retired as, in her own words, she couldn’t take to it and was adamant she wanted to continue to care for and help others.

Ann continued:

“Being able to work each day with the fantastic Redcot residents is a blessing. As I’m not that much younger than most of the residents, we can relate and connect so well on so many levels about so many things. I truly believe this is why we are all so close and one big happy family.”

Ann is full of energy and makes sure that the residents are kept both physically and mentally active every day.

Jan Daly, Redcot’s Registered Manager and one of the Charity’s Regional Managers said:

“Ann has designed and delivered a fantastic activities programme. From the minute Ann arrives in the morning, until the second she leaves in the evening, the residents’ well-being is at the heart of everything she does.

“Ann’s wide and varied activities are all bespoke to each resident’s individual likes and preferences. They range from sing-along afternoons, film nights, games, Bingo!, quizzes, themed days and events; to arts and crafts sessions, gentle exercise classes, excursions and the ever-popular performances by visiting entertainers and visits from a variety of community groups. She really is a force of nature.”

Ann continued:

“To be able to make sure the residents have a good day, every day, it is essential to me that I spend quality time getting to know each resident on a deeper, personal level. I believe this vital as I need to make sure I know what each resident likes, what they are not that fond of, their favourite hobbies, their interests and pastimes. This is the foundation which I build upon to make sure that each activity I deliver is tailored and bespoke to meet each resident’s individual needs.”

Jan added:

“To have Ann’s hard work, caring demeanour, amazing achievements and outstanding skills recognised by The Surrey Care Awards is a great validation of everything Ann does, every day.

“Ann goes the extra mile to positively contribute to the quality of life, health, well-being and happiness of each resident, including those who are living with dementia, it’s in her DNA. Redcot and Friends of the Elderly are very lucky and fortunate to have her.”

Ann concluded:

“To say that I feel honoured is an understatement. Everyone who was nominated at the Surrey Care Awards, not just in my award category, but in each category, was so worthy. All of us are winners in my eyes.”