Innovative dementia care home awarded University of Stirling Gold Standard

A care home has been awarded the University of Stirling Gold Standard for its dementia friendly design which includes housing people in small, homely wings giving it a home-like ambience.

Fremantle Court in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire developed by specialist construction partner Castleoak , was awarded a Gold Standard from the University of Stirling Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC), which is an independent audit that assesses environments used by people living with dementia.

The care home, which was designed by architect Hunters, includes a dementia friendly lift, a residents’ laundry room on designated wings and all toilet and bathroom doors across the home are the same colour. All the walls have been painted in non-reflective colours and in a palette that is dementia friendly.

Jan Lovett, service manager at Fremantle Court said: “The layout of the home means that there are lots of different spaces for residents and their families to use, some where people can engage with others and some where people can spend private or quiet time. Residents can independently access all core areas and staff can observe people without intruding on their space. The splayed corridors work really well and they have reduced isolation for those residents who remain in their rooms.”

The DSDC team at the University of Stirling said that ‘this building demonstrates a high level of attention to dementia design from the overall layout to the small details. Some unexpected and inspiring features include silent extractor fans, see-through shelved partitions between the corridors and the communal areas, a residents’ laundry room and a dementia friendly lift. The toilet roll holders are worth replicating since they are exceptionally domestic for a care home setting. There is also separate toilet area within the assisted bathroom which is exemplary’.

The 90 bed home was designed around “Visual Access which allows residents to enjoy their home whilst retaining their independence with freedom of choice to do or go where they want”, according to James Wallace, director at Hunters Architects.

Fremantle Court achieved a final score of 96 per cent and 100 per cent for the essential features, with the Stirling University report concluding that “there were numerous examples of best practice from the overall layout and principles to the small details”.

The home was commended for the colour of the skirting boards contrasting with the walls and the floor and for avoiding large patterned carpets and strong wallpaper patters. It also has a simple layout and highly visible rooms and books are available throughout the home.

Craig Currie, chief executive at Castleoak, said: “We are delighted that the innovative care home we have delivered at Stoke Mandeville is starting to receive the accolades it deserves. Working in close partnership with The Fremantle Trust, we have focussed on achieving the rigorous dementia care standards set by Stirling University, and delivering a care home that we can all be proud of.”

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