Enter and view: Ivelhurst Nursing Home, Yeovil

Healthwatch Somerset carried out an Enter and View visit to Ivelhurst Nursing Home in Yeovil, a residential and nursing home supporting people living with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, mental health conditions and brain injuries. Overall, Healthwatch found a welcoming, caring and well-run service. Residents appeared relaxed, comfortable and well presented, and consistently spoke positively about staff, describing them as friendly, kind and supportive. Staff interactions were observed to be warm, respectful and person-centred, with residents able to choose how they spent their day and where they ate their meals. 

Residents reported feeling safe and enjoyed a wide range of activities including bingo, exercise sessions, outings, film shows and visits from therapy animals. The home encouraged residents to personalise their bedrooms and maintained strong links with the local community through relationships with schools, colleges, church groups and community organisations. Healthwatch observed good opportunities for social interaction and noted the positive atmosphere throughout the home. Some residents also valued having access to hairdressing services, technology, newspapers and visits from family members and pets. 

Staff described a supportive working environment with strong teamwork, regular meetings and approachable management. Many staff had worked at the home for several years, and residents confirmed that staff had time to talk and build relationships with them. Access to healthcare services was generally good, including GP support, specialist nurses, opticians and podiatry services, although the home reported ongoing challenges accessing dental care and occasional difficulties with patient transport services for hospital appointments.

Healthwatch made a small number of recommendations focused on further enhancing residents’ experiences, including exploring opportunities for volunteer befrienders, introducing a staff photo board, improving stair handrails and displaying more photographs of resident activities around the home. The report concluded that Ivelhurst provides safe, compassionate and person-centred care in a homely environment with strong staff commitment and positive community connections.