Adopt A Grandparent and CHD Living Win National Award for Transforming Dementia Care Through Intergenerational Friendships

Adopt A Grandparent and long-standing care home partner CHD Living have been named winners of the prestigious Intergenerational Activity Award at the National Dementia Care Awards 2025, in recognition of their ground-breaking work to tackle loneliness and support the wellbeing of people living with dementia.

The award celebrates innovative initiatives that bring generations together in ways that enhance lives and deliver real-world impact.

Since day one, CHD Living has helped shape our programme as a founding partner, embedding Adopt A Grandparent into the heart of its homes. The results have been profound. Residents who were once withdrawn have found joy and confidence again through consistent, personal connection.

Gay, a resident living with dementia, began engaging and smiling again after being paired with Jenny, a young volunteer. Jin, a Korean-speaking resident, lit up when matched with a volunteer from LA who could speak his language, helping him feel seen and valued. These are just two of the many life-affirming relationships forged through the programme.

“Dementia may affect memory, but it doesn’t take away the human need for connection,” said David Annand, Head of Operations and Fundraising at Adopt A Grandparent. “This award is a celebration of the small, everyday moments that matter – the conversations that lift spirits, the laughter that brings confidence back, and the friendships that remind our older generation they’re never forgotten. We’re so proud to share this with CHD Living, who believed in the power of intergenerational connection from the very start.”

Jon Stanley, Chief Operating Officer at CHD Living, added:

“Wellbeing isn’t just a word to us, it’s a feeling we strive to create every day. Through our partnership with Adopt A Grandparent, we’ve seen residents living with dementia rediscover parts of themselves that were fading: confidence, laughter, curiosity, joy. These calls may be short, but their impact is lasting. They remind our residents that they matter, that someone is thinking of them, waiting to speak with them. That sense of connection can lift a day, transform a week, even spark a renewed sense of purpose. This award recognises the true power of human connection, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of it.”

What the judges and sponsors of the award said:

“Given that Adopt a Grandparent has grown into a global initiative, it’s truly remarkable how the core mission is making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. It continues to shine through in everything they do. The passion and purpose behind the project remain as strong and authentic as ever. Amazing work.”

With loneliness now recognised as a public health concern, especially among people living with dementia, the Adopt A Grandparent model is offering a vital lifeline - not just for residents, but for volunteers too.

We are continuing to expand its work across the UK and is actively encouraging care homes to get involved.

For more information or to sign up, visit: www.adoptagrandparent.org.uk, or to learn more about CHD Living, click here: www.chdliving.co.uk.