Enter and view: Greenacres Care Home

Healthwatch Liverpool carried out an Enter and View visit to Greenacres Care Home in September 2015. Overall, the visit found a positive and caring environment. The home appeared clean, well maintained and welcoming, with attractive communal areas, an enclosed garden and personalised bedrooms. Residents appeared relaxed and comfortable, and Healthwatch observed positive interactions between staff and residents throughout the visit.

Residents and relatives were very complimentary about the staff, describing them as friendly, caring and responsive. Family members said they were kept informed about their relatives’ wellbeing and felt involved in care planning and reviews. Several relatives reported that Greenacres compared favourably with other homes they had visited and expressed confidence in the quality of care provided. Residents also spoke positively about the food, highlighting the availability of choices and flexibility around meals. 

The home offered a range of activities and social opportunities, including bingo, entertainers, trips out and visits from community groups. Residents could choose where they wanted to spend their time and where they wanted to eat. Healthwatch also heard that medical support was well organised, with access to GPs, community nurses, opticians and other healthcare professionals when required. Staff retention was particularly strong, with many members of staff having worked at the home for many years. 

Healthwatch concluded that Greenacres provided a good standard of care and received largely positive feedback from residents and families. Recommendations focused on improving storage of continence products in communal areas, addressing occasional odours within parts of the home and considering ways to make garden access easier for residents using mobility aids. The provider responded positively and outlined actions taken to address all recommendations.