"Revolutionary" dementia care home to launch in UK

A £30m Anchor care home will open tomorrow and is the first English care home to implement a new care model which empowers its community to control the choices that impact on their everyday lives.

Anchor, a charity and England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care to older people, say that West Hall in West Byfleet, Surrey, ‘is set to revolutionise care in Britain with a bold new philosophy.’

Care at the home is determined by person-centred planning and a supportive environment, adaptable to people’s needs and aspirations. Staff ensure residents retain autonomy over their day-to-day living by offering them a greater say in their care provision and lifestyle choices.

Anchor has ensured that residents will receive dignified support from carers with whom they will develop long-term, enabling relationships. This is because carers will support a maximum of five residents each in a role designed to respond to the wishes and routines set out by the residents themselves.

Every member of staff at West Hall, from the handyman to the gardener, the kitchen assistant to the chef will receive comprehensive customer care and dementia awareness training. This training means the daily challenges faced by the residents will be understood by all staff members.

The care home building is designed around the same principles, as the engineers, planners and dementia specialists worked closely to create an environment that increases quality of life for people in need of care and that facilitates independent living.

This includes:

• Sensors built into bed frames to monitor individuals’ sleep patterns and bedtime bathroom routines. Should a customer fall during a visit to the bathroom in the night, sensors will recognise the abnormality in the person’s movements and alert staff. This avoids carers having to disrupt residents’ sleep by the regular checks they need to carry out as in other care homes.

• ‘Memory boxes’ built into the entrance of each bedroom - customers are able to fill their display cabinet with items personal to them, such as family pictures, to help those living with dementia recognise their room as well as personalising their home.

• Uniquely patterned tactile panels installed outside each bedroom - Tactile surfaces have proved successful in aiding memory for people living with dementia so that the residents can easily identify where they are.

• Distinct colour schemes on each floor of a building - This helps customers familiarise themselves with their surroundings so they recognise the floor where their room is.

• Transparently panelled cupboards are installed in some bedrooms - Opaque cupboards can often cause distress for people living with dementia whilst clear cupboards help to identify the persons living area and personal possessions to reduce anxiety.

• Raised allotment spaces so that all residents can enjoy an active lifestyle and continue their garden hobbies.

• Communal living and dining rooms at the heart of each floor, with spacious outdoor areas open to all members of the care home community. The spaces provide the perfect setting for social activities, which will be both encouraged by staff members and initiated by customers.

There is a library and hair salon onsite to provide comfort and a sense of normality to residents. There is also a designed quiet room offering a peaceful retreat for those looking to relax away from their room. A central bistro and private dining room broaden the choice for meal times and offer a place for family and friends to meet and dine together with residents.

Anchor say that there are currently more people in the UK aged over 65 than under 16, with this number set to grow. By 2051 it is predicted there will be over 1.7m people living with dementia and the charity states our care system must be prepared. Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of Anchor said: “The demands of our ageing population are evolving and it is time for care providers to respond to those needs.

“West Hall is part of Anchor’s plan to build 1,100 properties over the next five years, to help deliver desirable housing for our ageing population. Our philosophy is a bold step that we believe will pave the way for quality care for generations to come, whilst supporting those in need today.”