Wave 5 care home visits: Enter and view

Healthwatch East Sussex conducted visits to 44 care homes for older people in their area rated as either good or outstanding by the CQC, their object to understand and share good practice amongst local social care providers. The focus for their visits, conducted using observation and questions prepared in advance for residents and staff, was to understand the levels of choice and independence available to residents. This was closely tied to enquiries and observations made about accessing outdoor space and feeling part of the community.

What they found was that choice and independence is linked to amenities, information and communication and activities. In addition they saw very good practice where care homes brought communities into the care setting whether this is through visits from children who attend a local nursery or a range of different animals. There is a correlation with care quality and the quality of activity coordinators; good coordinators will offer a range of activities at the home such as gardening as well outside the home such as visits to the seafront or cinema.

Some suggestions include residents newsletters, meetings and welcome packs, indoor and outdoor sensory spaces, roles for residents such as ambassador, access to transport to do outings, access to technology such as Skype and Alexa and importantly the ability to feedback to staff and see change happen as a result.