Lorna's long-time commitment to care recognised with Scottish Care Award Coupar Angus

A Balhousie employee whose dedication to her residents extends way beyond her day job has scooped a prestigious Scottish Care Award.

Lorna Menzies, Home Administrator at Balhousie Coupar Angus, won the Ancillary and Support Staff category at a glittering awards ceremony at the Hilton Glasgow last Friday night.

Lorna has worked at the Perthshire care home for five years and for the sector for 22 years.

Morag Shea, Home Manager at Balhousie Coupar Angus, said: “From doing weekly shopping for residents to personally engaging with relatives and finding creative ways to fundraise for our residents’ comfort fund, Lorna is so much more than a Home Administrator. She is the glue that holds the place together.

“Lorna believes the home isn’t a home to our residents, it’s their home, and she has instilled that in our culture. She has built amazing relationships with residents and their families, getting to know them from day one.”

Before joining Balhousie Coupar Angus, Lorna worked at another care home, in her home town of Blairgowrie. One of the residents from that home, whom she bonded with, moved to Balhousie Coupar Angus and Lorna joined the home shortly afterwards.

Once a fortnight, Lorna took Barry Fergusson to a meeting of the charity Headway in Perth. Headway works to improve life after a brain injury. “With no family to take him, Barry wouldn’t be able to go if not for Lorna. It was the highlight of his fortnight,” said Morag. Barry recently passed away and Lorna organised the funeral.

Lorna said: “I was overwhelmed and delighted to be a winner at the Scottish Care Awards. A big thank you to Morag for nominating me and everyone at Coupar Angus for making it happen. I have received some lovely messages and comments which mean so much to me.”

Lorna was one of two Balhousie Care Group employees to reach the finals on Friday. Orlando Aguilon, Deputy Home Manager at Balhousie Ruthven Towers in Auchterarder, was a finalist in the Nurse of the Year category.

Jill Kerr, Group Chief Executive Officer at Balhousie Care Group, said: “We’re so proud of Lorna and Orlando for reaching the finals on Friday night among such stiff competition nationwide, and huge congratulations to Lorna for her win. Both of them show such outstanding commitment to their residents, it’s so heartening to see that recognised.”

Lorna’s triumph is the latest in a streak of award wins and nominations for Balhousie Care Group and its Coupar Angus home. The Perth-based care provider, which has 26 facilities across six regions of Scotland, last month won three Courier Business Awards, including Business of the Year. Orlando and Balhousie’s specialist care arm, ASC, reached the finals of the Great British Care Awards’ North East region. Another member of Balhousie Coupar Angus, Activities Coordinator Patrycja Dwojak, is shortlisted as Employee of the Year in the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business STAR Awards, which take place on Friday November 25.

Balhousie Coupar Angus which was this year named in the Top 20 care homes in Scotland by the reviews-based website carehome.co.uk