Enter and view: Suffolk Lodge
Download (PDF 1.94 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Wokingham Borough carried out an enter and view visit on Suffolk Lodge, a care home that provides accommodation and services for up to 40 residents who have care needs associated with old age or dementia.
Healthwatch Wokingham Borough carried out the visit to test out a new tool for evaluation of how dementia friendly a care environment is. They also wished to see the social environment and to understand how person centred the care is.
Observations noted by representatives included:
- There was evidence of age and culturally appropriate objects in the communal areas to act as orientation cues and to stimulate every day familiar activity.
- Most bedrooms were personalised with objects and pictures with frames of reference for the person with the dementia. This is important as a person's belongings should be welcomed into any care setting to create a home-like environment.
- Signage in most areas is clear and prominent in a constant colour to the wall.
There were recommendations made in the report that came under 8 themes and included:
Communal spaces - Employ more contrasting colours in the corridors to help people navigate better. Contrasting colours on the walls and doors can give the person with dementia a sense of depth and perspective to help them to define important aspects of the environment.
- Visual access - It is recommended that thresholds are clear to ensure that visual barriers (such as change in flooring) are minimised to avoid confusion and distress. Contrasting edges can be perceived as a barrier to some people with dementia. In such circumstances stark contrasts at floor level might become a hazard.
The report includes a reply from the service manager.