Help us honour county’s hero care workers
WINNER AYANTHI JOINS CALLS FOR NOMINATIONS
BRINGING colour, music and laughter to people’s lives is all in a day’s work for Ayanthi Gamage.
The 49-year-old, right, is an activities co-ordinator at Langdale View Residential and Nursing Home in Leicester and is famous for her innovative sessions, including singing, dancing and dressing up.
Ayanthi’s creative flair with Langdale’s residents saw her named Dementia Care Professional of the Year in the LeicestershireLive Care Professional of the Year Awards 2020.
Today, she is calling on people to nominate their hero care workers for the 2022 awards and help shine a light on the incredible work that goes on in our communities.
“It was such a shock when I found out that I’d won,” said Ayanthi, who been in the job at Langdale for just six months when she found out she’d been nominated. Before that, she’d been working in retail as a store designer.
“I’d never done anything like this before and it was a totally new career path,” she added. “Winning an award, well, it just lifts you up – it gives you such a boost.”
Ayanthi works with residents of all ages, capabilities and needs, encouraging and inspiring them to try new things and, above all, make them smile.
“That’s the real satisfaction for me,” said Ayanthi, who lives near Langdale, in Gipsy Lane. “When you see on their faces that they’ve really enjoyed something.
“It’s the smiles and the thankyous that make your day.”
The next LeicestershireLive Care Professional of the Year Awards, held in association with Inspired to Care, will be a virtual event on Thursday, February 10.
Nominations are open now for caring professionals and those who use the care service to name who they think deserves special recognition for their dedication.
We want to hear about the people who have gone that extra mile to help others.
Categories include Best Newcomer to Care, Dementia Carer of the Year, Supporting Independence and Palliative Care Professional of the Year.
After the nomination closing date on January 4, three finalists will be shortlisted within each category by the expert judging panel, made up of representatives from our sponsors and care service users.
Ayanthi said she loved being part of the 2020 awards – she even got her glad rags on for the virtual event.
“I was sitting in the living room with my daughter, watching it all,” she said. “I made sure I wore my heels!
“It’s a really good event because I think that everybody who works hard deserves to be recognised. It can be quite challenging sometimes and you need a lot of patience.”
Ayanthi said she plans to carry on working with Langdale’s residents, coming up with new and exciting sessions to keep everyone entertained.
She said: “I’ve done this job for a year now and it’s coming more naturally. The hard work definitely pays off in the end.”
To nominate a care professional and find out more, visit: