At Belong Villages, dementia care is more than clinical—it’s deeply personal, rooted in compassion, and shaped by two exceptional Admiral Nurses who are transforming lives through expert support and emotional understanding.
Caroline Clifton and Bridget Lawler, finalists in this year’s Dementia Care Awards, are redefining what it means to support people living with dementia and their families. Their work blends clinical excellence with human connection, guiding people through every stage of the dementia journey—including the often-overlooked terrain of grief.
Since 2013, Belong has partnered with Dementia UK to introduce Admiral Nurses into its villages, offering families facing dementia the highest standard of evidence-based, relationship-centred care. Caroline and Bridget provide assessments, tailored interventions, and holistic emotional support, recognising the unique and often complex challenges families face. They are a steady, reassuring presence during times of uncertainty, transition, and loss.
“It’s a privilege to be working to improve quality of life for people with dementia and their families,” Caroline shared.
Bridget added, “Over the years I’ve gained so much knowledge about dementia that I truly feel I can make a difference. People may not remember what you said or did, but they’ll remember how you made them feel. The human element of this role is just as important as the clinical aspect.”
At Belong, Admiral Nurses don’t just deliver care—they shape it. They play a key role in service development, raising standards, and ensuring that Belong’s dementia approach aligns with national guidance and the organisation’s own high expectations. Their compassion-first model empowers colleagues to look beyond symptoms and diagnoses, exploring emotional wellbeing, relationships, and the wider social context. It’s about recognising fear, validating lived realities, and responding with sensitivity.
Take the common phrase, “I want to go home.” A factual reply—“This is your home now”—might seem logical, but it risks distressing someone whose emotional reality says otherwise. Instead, Caroline and Bridget model therapeutic responses that soothe and reassure: “That sounds really important to you. Are you worried someone doesn’t know where you are? … They know where you are and that you are safe.”
Belong’s environment supports this approach beautifully. Smaller households create homely, personalised spaces where residents are truly known. The wider village offers bistros, salons, gardens, and libraries—places to live, not just stay. And it’s not just nurses and carers who understand dementia. Everyone—from gym instructors to hairdressers—is trained in dementia communication. Bridget beams, “I love seeing housekeepers chatting and laughing with residents: that’s what community looks like.”
The impact of Admiral Nursing stretches beyond Belong’s walls. B’s Memory Café, a monthly drop-in, offers coffee, conversation, and connection to anyone navigating a dementia diagnosis. “People often come to us unsure what to do after a diagnosis,” Caroline explained. “We’ve always been here for Belong customers, and we’re pleased to offer this to the wider community too.”
One relative described the service as “an invaluable lifeline at a really stressful time,” praising Caroline’s practical help in securing care and financial support.
For Caroline and Bridget, dementia care is about more than managing a condition—it’s about celebrating life. “We promote happiness and fun because that’s what life is about,” said Bridget. “Once you step into a person’s world and go with the flow, everything changes—you understand them so much better.”
“We are committed to ensuring that people affected by dementia feel heard, safe, and supported, as well as celebrating the person as they are today,” they added. “Every day is an opportunity to find joy, connection and love in the moment.”
