Home Affairs Correspondent
RMD Care was named Care Home Provider of the Year – Independent at the Leaders in Care Awards 2026, held on October 6 at the Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club, in recognition of its family-led approach, investment in technology and staff development, and community engagement.
Established in 1992, RMD Care grew out of the Merali family’s experience of caring for their grandfather, who had dementia. Brothers Riyaz and Abbas Merali said the experience inspired their father to create an organisation that would treat residents with the same love and dignity the family would want for their own relatives.
“For Riyaz and me, this award is particularly special because RMD Care is much more than a business. It is a family legacy built on compassion, service and looking after our elders,” Abbas told The Muslim News.
“Our journey began with our grandfather, whose initials, RMD, remain the name of our organisation today. When he needed care, our family came together to support him. That experience inspired our father to establish RMD Care in 1992, with a simple vision: to provide the same love, dignity and attention to other people’s parents and grandparents that we would want for our own.”
What began as a family effort, with relatives preparing meals and helping with shifts, has grown into six care homes supporting hundreds of residents and employing more than 200 people.
“More than three decades later, to have grown into six care homes, supporting hundreds of residents and employing over 200 colleagues, is incredibly humbling,” Abbas said.
The organisation has since expanded and modernised, introducing digital and AI-enabled care technology to support safer, more personalised care. The awards judges recognised its progress in quality systems, workforce development and community engagement, while maintaining its family culture.
RMD Care was shortlisted in four categories, including Care Home Provider of the Year, Registered Manager of the Year for Joanna Sage, Innovation in Care Homes Technology, and Care Kitchen Team of the Year for Cams Ridge.
The family said the award recognised their father’s original vision and the contribution of staff across the organisation.
“Being family-run is not simply about ownership. It means being personally accountable, knowing our residents and staff, and creating a genuine sense of belonging,” Abbas said.
“Our wonderful colleagues are the heart of RMD Care, and this award is ultimately a tribute to their compassion and dedication.”
The family is also exploring the possibility of developing specialist care for Muslim older people, potentially at one of its existing homes in Harrow, where it already looks after Muslim residents.
Abbas said longer life expectancy, changing family circumstances and increasingly complex care needs meant some families required professional support, even where caring for older relatives remained central to their faith and traditions.
“We believe there is a real opportunity to combine outstanding care with a deep understanding of Muslim cultural and spiritual needs, including faith, food, language, modesty and family involvement,” he said.
“Our vision is not to replace the family’s role in caring for our elders, but to complement it, ensuring older people receive the professional care they need without compromising their dignity, identity or faith.”
Abbas said the organisation’s priority remained ensuring residents felt safe, valued and cared for, while giving their families peace of mind.
“Ultimately, this award is a wonderful milestone, but our greatest satisfaction remains knowing that residents feel safe, valued and loved, and that their families have peace of mind,” he said. “That was our father’s vision in 1992, and it remains ours today.”
