Elderly and specialist care provider Meallmore has appointed Isla Cowe as care home manager of Grove Care Home in Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, a purpose-built 40-bed facility for residents with a range of nursing and support needs including palliative care and individuals living with dementia.

Cowe is an experienced healthcare professional who has worked in the industry for more than 20 years. For the past five years she has been manager at Allachburn Care Home in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, and was assistant care home manager for the five years before that. She has spent time in ‘every position’ in a care home setting, including cooking, cleaning, care and night shifts. She started working in care homes in 2008 and worked her way up to night supervisor in 2012, before becoming the assistant care home manager for the local authority in 2015.

With a background in business management in the food and drink industry, Cowe first began her career in care in 2004 when she started providing community ‘care at home’ services. She then joined Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen as an auxiliary nurse.

Cowe said: “Having worked in a variety of roles in the care sector, from auxiliary nurse, right through to senior care home positions, I feel I have a solid understanding of what is required from everyone across the team. It’s made me more adaptable as a colleague and more understanding as a manager. I get a great deal of job satisfaction from my work – it’s not about just making someone smile but helping residents to truly live their lives to the fullest.

“I’ve had a very positive start to my time at Grove. I’m really enjoying getting to know the residents, their families, the team and the local community. This really is a local home for local people, and it has a great feel to it – even down to the friendly sheep and donkeys next door.

“We’ve got a good, solid team of staff and a lovely group of residents. I’m looking forward to working more closely with our partner agencies and the local community to build even stronger relationships across the board.”