Enter and view: Garden Lodge
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Healthwatch Liverpool carried out an Enter and View visit to Garden Lodge on 1 May 2018. The home provides residential and dementia care for older people and was found to offer a clean, welcoming and well-maintained environment. Healthwatch observed positive interactions between staff and residents, and residents generally spoke positively about the care they received, describing staff as friendly and supportive.
A particular strength of the home was its dementia-friendly Newcombe Unit. Healthwatch praised the use of colour, themed corridor murals, sensory spaces and accessible gardens to support residents living with dementia. The home also offered a varied programme of activities including music, crafts, gardening, outings, visits from schools, therapy animals and themed events. Residents were encouraged to take part in activities and community links appeared strong.
Residents were generally positive about the food, healthcare support and opportunities available to them. The home employed a full-time chef and offered flexible meal choices, while staff supported access to GPs, mental health services, chiropody and other healthcare professionals. Families were involved in care planning, menu tasting and resident meetings.
Healthwatch concluded that Garden Lodge provided a high standard of care and a particularly strong dementia-friendly environment. No recommendations were made, with the report highlighting the home’s innovative approach to activities, community engagement and dementia care as examples of good practice.