Cwm Gwendraeth Retains Huntington’s Disease HDA Accreditation

Cwm Gwendraeth Lodge has successfully retained accreditation from the Huntington’s Disease Association (HDA), with its evidence portfolio recognised as an example of best practice.

Cwm Gwendraeth, our specialist complex nursing home in Upper Tumble, Wales, has once again been awarded accreditation by the

Huntington’s Disease Association (HDA), confirming its continued commitment to high-quality specialist nursing care for people living with Huntington’s disease.

The Huntington’s Disease Association is the national charity supporting individuals and families affected by Huntington’s disease across England and Wales. As well as offering advice and advocacy, the organisation works closely with health and social care providers to improve understanding of the condition and raise standards of support.

Through its Quality Assured scheme, the HDA recognises homes that demonstrate the knowledge, skills and environment needed to provide specialist care for people living with Huntington’s disease.

Following a recent review process, Cwm Gwendraeth has successfully retained its HDA accreditation – offering renewed reassurance to families and professionals seeking experienced, specialist care.

Helen Santini, Team Leader at the Huntington’s Disease Association, welcomed the achievement and highlighted what stood out during the review. She shared, “one of the things that particularly stood out during the re-accreditation process was Cwm Gwendraeth’s standard around activities and social stimulation.”

She continued, “There was an excellent range of activities at all levels and designed to cater for individuals’ different needs. Creating opportunities like this takes real investment and resources, but it also makes a huge difference to the care and experience of people living in a care home.”

Alongside confirming the outcome, HDA assessors also praised the quality of the portfolio submitted as part of the accreditation process. The evidence compiled by Home Manager Lis Bielak was so clearly structured that assessors asked whether it could be used as an example for other services working through the scheme.

What HDA accreditation means in practice

For families affected by Huntington’s disease, choosing the right nursing home is rarely straightforward.

Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that can affect movement, behaviour, communication and thinking over time. As the condition develops, people often require specialist support delivered with patience, flexibility and deep understanding

The HDA Quality Assured scheme exists to help identify homes that demonstrate that level of knowledge and commitment. Rather than focusing solely on policies, the scheme looks at how care is delivered in practice – whether colleagues understand the condition, whether support adapts as needs change, and whether people are able to continue living meaningful lives.

At Cwm Gwendraeth, that philosophy is embedded into everyday life within the home. Activities and social engagement, for example, are carefully designed around the interests and abilities of each person supported. From shared activities that bring people together to quieter individual moments of connection, the aim is always the same: helping people feel included, stimulated and valued.

It was this thoughtful approach to meaningful engagement that particularly stood out to HDA assessors during the review.

Recognition for Lis and the team

The accreditation process required a detailed portfolio of evidence demonstrating how the home supports people living with Huntington’s disease.

The submission was led by Lis, Home Manager at Cwm Gwendraeth, who worked with colleagues to bring together examples of the team’s daily practice and approach.

For Lis, the process was less about preparing for an assessment and more about clearly demonstrating the work that already takes place within the home.

The portfolio brought together evidence showing how the team adapts support for individuals, communicates with families and ensures care plans reflect each person’s needs and preferences.

When reviewing the submission, the HDA noted that well-structured portfolios help the accreditation process run smoothly, particularly when evidence is clear and easy to navigate before and during observation visits. That clarity was one of the reasons the portfolio stood out.

Assessors explained that it is always helpful when evidence is “clear and well laid out”, as this supports the process for everyone involved and allows the review team to better understand how a home operates in practice.

As a result, they asked whether Lis’ submission could be used as an exemplar for other homes working towards accreditation – a recognition that reflects the team’s professionalism and attention to detail.

Why maintaining accreditation matters

Achieving accreditation once is an important milestone. Maintaining it over time says even more about the stability and consistency of a home.

According to the Huntington’s Disease Association, seeing homes retain accreditation is always encouraging because it demonstrates continuity in the level of care being provided.

Helen Santini explains that the scheme is also about building long-term relationships with homes that support people living with Huntington’s disease.

She said, “it is always really positive to see a care home retaining accreditation, because it shows continuity in the level of care. For the HDA, the scheme is also about building relationships with homes so we can support them over time, because maintaining high standards of care always involves reflection and development.”

That ongoing partnership helps ensure that homes continue learning and evolving as understanding of Huntington’s disease develops.

For Cwm Gwendraeth, retaining HDA accreditation reflects the team’s continued commitment to specialist knowledge and thoughtful, person-centred care.

A specialist home shaped around people

Supporting someone living with Huntington’s disease requires a unique combination of clinical understanding and compassion. Needs can change over time. Communication can become more complex. Routines often need to adapt around the individual.

At Cwm Gwendraeth, the team focuses on creating a calm, supportive environment where people feel comfortable and understood.

The recognition from the Huntington’s Disease Association reinforces that this approach is making a real difference. It also sends a reassuring message to families and professionals looking for specialist Huntington’s disease care: that Cwm Gwendraeth is a home where experience, understanding and compassion come together to support people living with a complex condition.

Looking ahead

For the team at Cwm Gwendraeth, retaining HDA accreditation is a moment to celebrate, but also motivation to continue building on the standards that made the recognition possible.

The accreditation reflects not just a successful review, but the daily work of supporting people living with Huntington’s disease with dignity, patience and understanding.

And while the plaque and certificate will soon arrive, the real value lies in what they represent: reassurance for families, confidence for professionals and recognition of a home committed to getting specialist care right.