Belper chef wins Creative Nutrition Award for transforming dementia-friendly nutrition
A Derbyshire care home in is celebrating after its head chef won the Creative Nutrition Award at the Dementia Care Awards, recognising his innovative approach to improving residents’ nutrition and wellbeing.
Richard Glover, Group Catering Manager for Milford Care and Head Chef at Ashbourne Lodge, was recognised for developing personalised nutrition plans that have helped residents living with dementia improve their weight, strength, hydration and confidence.
His approach includes presenting puréed meals so they resemble the original food, helping residents recognise what they are eating. He also creates fortified meals for residents who need additional calories and protein, using ingredients such as full-fat milk enriched with milk powder and double cream.
Richard takes an equally creative approach to helping residents stay hydrated. Flavoured hydration products and fortified ice creams are used or trialled alongside hydration stations and snack bars placed throughout the home as clear visual prompts to eat and drink. This is particularly important for people living with dementia who may forget they are hungry or thirsty.
Every nutrition plan is tailored to the resident’s individual needs and preferences, with food used to support recovery and emotional wellbeing rather than being treated simply as a daily care task.
Richard said: “For me, nutrition and hydration are about supporting each resident’s individual needs. It’s rewarding to see someone improve their strength and overall wellbeing, as well as their confidence, with the right support.
“Winning the Creative Nutrition Award means a great deal because it recognises the importance of taking a personalised and imaginative approach to care catering. Everything we do is shaped around the residents, their preferences and what will help them feel healthier, more confident and more independent.”
Resident Ron, 74, lost two stones following an illness and believed he would need to remain on a puréed diet. Richard developed a personalised nutrition plan to rebuild his weight, strength and immunity through fortified meals, increased calories, protein-rich snacks and creative hydration strategies.
The plan included protein powders, yoghurt, custard, snack bars and coconut milk, alongside added fibre and folate-rich foods. This personalised support helped improve Ron’s weight, hydration, strength, confidence and overall wellbeing.
Residents are also involved in choosing food and snacks through Ashbourne Lodge’s resident-run store, encouraging independence and active engagement.
Pierre Falleth, Managing Director of Milford Care, said: “This award reflects the wider approach we take across Milford Care, where nutrition is viewed as an essential part of personalised care rather than simply a daily service. We encourage our teams to understand each resident as an individual and to find creative, practical ways to support their health, independence and quality of life.
“Richard has played an important role in driving that approach forward across the group, and this recognition is a testament both to his expertise and to the high standards we are committed to maintaining throughout all of our homes.”
Richard’s achievement reflects Milford Care’s Montessori-inspired ethos, which places purpose, independence, community and equality at the centre of daily life.
For more information about Ashbourne Lodge and its services, please visit:
https://www.milfordcare.co.uk/ashbourne-lodge/
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