CANDLELIGHT Care in Westbury has announced that Gabi Oke will be its first Dignity Champion.

Dignity Champions are part of the Dignity in Care campaign, run by the National Dignity Council.

To date 100,000 people have signed up to be Dignity Champions, all pledging to challenge poor care, to act as good role models and, through specific guidelines issued by the campaign, to educate and inform all those working around them.

Gabi has worked for Candlelight Care for five years and strongly believes everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.

Deborah Puxty, operations manager at Candlelight Care, said: “We could not think of a more suitable person to be our Dignity Champion than Gabi.

"She is well liked and respected within Candlelight Care."

"Her own personal experience of care gives her an additional level of understanding and empathy with our clients and their families.”

A close member of her own family has been in a care home for some years, and Gabi uses this experience when providing care and support to others.

Although Gabi has been unable to see her relative due to COVID restrictions she is planning to resume her visits, which include filing and painting nails, and cutting and colouring hair, as soon as she can.

Candlelight Care is a family-run company offering homecare and live-in care services in Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and East Sussex.

With a Head Office in Glastonbury, it has been caring for people of all ages in their own homes for over 30 years and its services are rated Good by the Care Quality Commission.