Enter and view: Meadow Bank Care Home, Bamber Bridge

Healthwatch Lancashire undertook an announced enter and view visit to Meadow Bank Care Home on 22 January 2025.  They spoke to 25 people.

Meadow Bank Care Home can accommodate up to 110 residents in total over four separate buildings. These buildings care and support people in residential care, dementia care and specialist dementia care. 

At the time of the visit there were 102 residents within the home. Healthwatch representatives were shown around the home by the manager, who explained about the types of care delivered in each building. Each area of the home had a large lounge area which had a separate part for dining. Food is prepared on site in the kitchen and is then delivered to the floors ready for meal time. The residents are able to choose from different choices on the menu every day, there were two choices for dinner. 

Healthwatch representatives spoke with a variety of staff members and residents on the day. Due to the complexity of some residents in the buildings, they were unable to have conversations with all residents due to their diagnosis of dementia. It was explained that there were four activities coordinators in place across the buildings to ensure that residents have access to activities throughout the day. 

During the visit there was only one activity taking place which was a biscuit decorating activity and that was only present in one building. Another activity coordinator was seen doing some nail care for a resident in another building. There weren’t any activities at the time of the visit taking place that representatives could observe and so residents were asked what activities they do and if they can join in with them. 

Overall resident feedback was positive, with them mentioning that they were happy within the home, the choice of food and the fact they could decorate their own rooms to their liking. There were a few comments about what activities take place and unsure if there were any happening the day that we visited. 

Staff feedback was very positive, with many staff members working for the care home for many years. They commented that they feel supported to do their role effectively and feel they have enough training to support their needs. Some areas for improvement included more activities in the buildings and spread out for other residents to join in, also more management presence during the day to discuss any concerns straight away and to share good practice. 

Relatives spoken with at the time of the visit commented that they were very happy with the care their loved one was receiving and praised the staff within the Home. One point brought up by relatives was that they weren’t aware of activities happening within the home. One relative mentioned that they had seen a singer in at one point but weren’t aware that there was a sheet up for them to view upcoming activities.