A NURSING home in Bridgwater specialising in care for those in dementia has a new manager.

Paula Howlett has been appointed as the manager at Avalon Nursing Home on Taunton Road, which is part of Camelot Care.

The mother of four has a wealth of experience in care, she originally trained as a psychiatric nurse, and has worked in mental health care for 20 years.

Mrs Howlett has also previously been the manager of a nursing home in Burnham where she was promoted from carer to manager after only six months.  Paula said: “I am really enjoying my new working environment. It’s busy and challenging – in a good way – and the team here are so professional, caring and enthusiastic. They really know how to ensure our lovely residents are supported to live their lives to the full.”

The keen musician has exciting plans for the home, including a beauty area with a salon for the ladies and a barber area.

She is also hoping to engage with the community to help create a dementia garden, incorporating a memorial area.

“It would be great to introduce some other new features, such as a traditional mail-box where residents could post their own letters and possibly a telephone box because things like these help people with dementia to orientate themselves and bring items of familiarity to aid reminiscence,” she added.

Mrs Howlett is also passionate about encouraging more music within the home to engage residents and improve their mood.

Outside work, Paula and her husband Rob are keen musicians and used to be known to patrons of the Mount Somerset Hotel where Paula sang to Rob’s jazz and blues piano accompaniment on Sunday afternoons.

She and her husband are also actively involved in the worship music and all-age services of their church.