A CARE home which last year took its residents on a cruise of the Norwegian fjords has won a national award.

Pen-Coed Care Home, Wooden, near Saundersfoot, won the My Home Life Cymru Award at a recent awards ceremony in Cardiff.

The award was one of six presented by Age Cymru, which is Wales’ largest charity for older people, and its My Home Life Cymru programme is aimed at improving the lives of people who live in, visit and work in care homes.

Said the Pen-Coed's registered manager, Sue Mason: “The team at Pen-Coed has truly broken the mould with regard to the expectations of its residents

“We have a strong belief that living with dementia should not stop people living a full life.

“It’s not a question of days out for our residents, but full-blown foreign holidays.

“In April 2014, we organised a cruise to the Norwegian fjords.

“For some of the residents this was their first time abroad so it was so they also had the excitement of applying for a passport, shopping for new clothes and packing their suitcases – as well as the new experience of going on a cruise.

“There were so many activities on board throughout the day and in the evening everyone dressed up for dinner and enjoyed dancing too if they wanted.

“We have also taken residents on holiday to destinations including Madeira and Spain.”

Pen-Coed Care Home is part of the Dale Road Group which has five care homes in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.