Enter and view: George Mason Lodge

Healthwatch Waltham Forest undertook an Enter and View visit to George Mason Lodge on 24 October 2017. The visit found that the care home provided a welcoming, comfortable and well-maintained environment for older people, including residents living with dementia and mental health conditions. Residents spoke positively about the support they received, and Healthwatch observed staff treating residents with kindness, dignity and respect.

The home demonstrated a strong person-centred approach to care. Residents were supported to remain as independent as possible and were encouraged to make decisions about their own care. Healthwatch highlighted the use of personalised memory boxes, dementia-friendly facilities, specialist support tools and effective communication between the home and hospitals when residents required treatment. Residents were also positive about the food, which catered for a wide range of dietary, cultural and religious needs. 

A wide variety of activities was available, including gardening, baking, arts and crafts, healthy living sessions, music-based activities and visits to a local dementia café. Healthwatch noted a flexible approach that allowed residents to choose whether or not to participate. The report also praised the home's partnerships with local organisations and schools, which created additional opportunities for social interaction and wellbeing. 

Healthwatch concluded that George Mason Lodge provided an excellent standard of care and identified it as an example of good practice. The only recommendation was to make complaints information more accessible, as the notice was displayed too high for some residents to read easily. The provider accepted the recommendation and moved the information to a lower position.