Enter and view: Mayfield House

This is an Enter and View report by Healthwatch Cheshire East. Healthwatch representatives visited the Mayfield House care home to assess the care delivered there.

The views of 18 residents and 3 relatives were captured.

There are recommendations in this report.

• In line with food hygiene regulations, staff should protect hair and wear gloves when serving food, and meals should be carried on a tray and covered with a plate cover to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
• We recommend the care home consider introducing the use of food moulds to shape meals for residents on soft or modified texture diets. Shaping pureed or soft-texture foods into forms that resemble their original appearance (e.g., carrots shaped like carrots, chicken shaped like a cutlet) can significantly improve meal presentation and dining experience for residents who require texture-modified diets. Using moulds to shape soft diet meals improves visual appeal, promotes dignity, and enhances resident satisfaction.
• Healthwatch recommends that the care home explore opportunities to collaborate with the University of the Third Age (U3A), an organisation that frequently partners with care homes in the local area. U3A offers a range of stimulating educational and social activities led by volunteers, which can enhance residents’ mental wellbeing, social engagement, and lifelong learning. Healthwatch has provided the home with relevant information to support this potential partnership.
• Healthwatch recommends that the care home consider personalising corridor walls with local photographs or familiar images that reflect the surrounding community. For residents living 
  with dementia, such visual cues can help spark memories, create a sense of familiarity and comfort, and support orientation within the home. Using meaningful, location-specific imagery can enhance the overall environment, making it more engaging and person-centred for residents.
• Explore opportunities to connect with local nurseries and schools to facilitate intergenerational visits. Regular interactions between residents and younger generations can offer significant benefits, including boosting mood, reducing feelings of isolation, and encouraging social engagement. Such connections help build a stronger sense of community and contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive care home environment.

There are no follow up actions in this report.