Enter and view: Elizabeth Homes

This is an Enter and View report by Healthwatch East Riding of Yorkshire. Healthwatch representatives visited the Elizabeth Homes care home to speak to residents and assess the care being delivered there.

Key findings:

• There is a real focus on music which is particularly beneficial to residents with dementia. The Manager told us they have plans to start a dementia choir.
• Elizabeth Homes have a Quality Assurance Policies and Procedures system called QCS System. This provides reading lists for staff to read, understand and sign. Staff have access to this at all times and the system automatically updates and notifies staff of any updates. The manager is able to see which staff members have read and understood any updates. This is a huge benefit.
• Elizabeth Homes are registered with the Home Office to recruit overseas workers which helps them to maintain staffing levels. They also have a house in Howden where staff recruited from overseas can live.
• The activities board indicated a good range of activities and is clearly visible to all. The board has hooks with illustrated cards that can easily be changed
• The Relatives gateway on the PCS system enables residents’ families tostay up to date with all the care their loved ones receive as it happens. They can access their loved one’s care plan and all relevant risk assessments, that have been put in place, remotely at any time. This is reassuring for relatives and saves them needing to telephone the home for updates.
• The manager produces a Newsletter every two months.

There are recommendations in this report.

• Ensure clear signage to make it clear where the home is.
• Have a menu board on the main sitting room wall with photos of meal choices.
• Level off the ground around the fountain so no edge between gravel and grass.
• Plant sensory plants such as herbs and scented flowers near the patio area.
• Have some raised beds/containers and have garden activities for residents.
• Invite residents to get involved painting the sheds alongside the maintenance man. This could even be an ongoing activity with different coloured paints.
• Involve those residents who would like to and are able to, in simple household tasks alongside staff member such as laying tables, folding sheets and towels etc.

There are no follow up actions in this report, the manager has responded to the recommendations.