Ferfoot care home helpers win awards for their ‘compassion and energy’ (From Wiltshire Times)

Ferfoot care home helpers win awards for their ‘compassion and energy’

2:00pm Wednesday 25th January 2012 in Chippenham

HARD-WORKING and kind-hearted helpers at Ferfoot Care Home have been honoured, both nationally and within the home.

Tracey Hannam, activities co-ordinator, and 17-year-old volunteer Natasha Kirkman have both been given awards for the compassion and energy they bring to caring for the residents of the home.

Mrs Hannam, 44, said their successes were down to good teamwork, and she was full of praise for the sixth-form student.

“I’m just so delighted that Tasha has been made the care home’s volunteer of the year,” she said.

“She has been here helping out at least once a week for about 17 months and we love her to bits. She brings such lovely spirit to being here – she’s always dancing around and getting involved. She’s a very special girl.”

The Sheldon schoolgirl is not the only one to begin the new year with an accolade – Mrs Hannam was recognised at the National Care Awards after being named Care Marketeer of the Year.

It is the third such award in two years for Mrs Hannam, who took home Yours Magazine’s Caring Awards Caring Person of the Year 2010 trophy, as well as an award for her outstanding contribution at the Caring Homes Group’s Celebrating Excellence Awards 2010.

“It’s not really about me – I just love my job,” said the former nanny and pre-school teacher.

“I wish the old folks could get a reward instead. It’s them who have to deal with having dementia.”

The future looks bright for Mrs Hannam, who hopes to write a book on the condition.

“I’d like to call it The Many Faces Of Dementia,” she said.

“When you hear the word ‘dementia’ or ‘demented’, people tend to jump to conclusions, so I’d like to set the record straight about it.”

Mrs Hannam joined Fer-foot – which provides specialist dementia care for up to 52 elderly people – five years ago and has since organised a range of activities at the home, including regular trips for local schools that allow children to talk and play with residents.

She was also the driving force behind Ferfoot being placed in the final five of the National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People’s Food Glorious Food competition, inviting the mayor for a tasters night with donations of food from Chippenham restaurants.

Home manager Vicky Higginson said: “I can’t imagine Ferfoot without Tracey.”