FEATURE ARTICLES

Wet rooms have increased in popularity and are now highly specified in care home facilities. However, a wet room is more than just a style choice and requires careful planning, as Chris Tranter, product manager at Bristan, explains

Working with care provider Notaro Homes, Boon Brown Architects designed Casa di Lusso, a care facility that offers hotel standard accommodation with all the clinical facilities required to provide dementia care. Architectural associate at Boon Brown, Mike Payne, discusses the project

While care homes are always designed to optimise comfort for residents, Jonathan Wilson, principal and healthcare sector lead at architectural practice, Stantec, explains why we need a complete sea change in the thinking behind care home design

Ewan King, director of business development and delivery, the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), discusses how to build a shared understanding of what personalisation or person-centred care means in a care home setting

Earlier this year, Susannah Millen attended the official opening of the Weald Heights care home in Sevenoaks, where she met Richard Pearman, business development director for operator Care UK, who told her more about the new home and the business

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published new guidance for its inspectors, which will impact on how care homes are inspected and rated. Martin Hodgson, lead commentator, Wolters Kluwer’s Croner-i Care Home Management, examines the changes

Falls can destroy confidence, increase isolation and reduce independence, with about one in 10 older people who experience a fall being afraid that they may fall again. Elaine Everett, founder, Motivation & Co, describes a programme that is helping to address the issue

Pat Taylor, director of health and Helen Tite, owner, The Core Health Consultancy and iCareiMove, discuss the role and importance of movement and exercise in later life, and how it can improve both health and wellbeing

Harriet Green, product manager for healthcare, Camira, discusses how specialist healthcare performance fabrics can be waterproof, stain repellent, flame retardant and antimicrobial, as well as meeting recognised sustainability criteria

Dana O’Donnell, interior design manager at NHG Project and Supplies, discusses the use of colour and technology in care home design as well as the importance of ensuring it is fit for purpose and what the future holds

Drew Heald, a Bio-Rite franchisee, discusses the challenges associated with infection control in the care home environment and how to manage them to ensure that the health of vulnerable residents is not put at risk

Many individuals with dementia are likely to express unmet needs due to poor moving and handling practices. Melanie Sturman, moving and handling strategic lead for Norfolk County Council, discusses the challenges of manual handling and how to address them

Susan Goldsmith, director of care quality and dementia, The Care Home Coach, provides some helpful hints for creating a dementia friendly environment that promotes wellbeing through orientation and familiarisation

Des Dolan, building services brand manager at Durapipe, discusses why the specification and installation of pipe systems should be considered at the design stage of a project, where possible, to reduce the risk of water-borne diseases

While current approaches to design and architecture often focus on meeting a budget or targets, the sector needs to be looking to the future, says Becky Smith, part II architectural assistant, Leonard Design

Ming Hung Hsu, chief music therapist at MHA, explains how music therapy can help carers manage the symptoms of dementia, helping to regulate the emotions, reducing anxiety and creating a relaxed environment for those who are affected and those around them

Gina Roche, care home sector specialist at Calor, discusses the benefits liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has to offer, particularly to rural care homes, which include heating efficiencies, security of supply and the fact that LPG tanks can be buried underground

Truly successful care homes will be those that fully engage with their local communities, resulting in rising standards, new social venues and fantastic publicity for the homes themselves, says Debbie Harris, founder of Chosen with Care

Sophie Murray, head of nutrition and hydration for Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare, considers the problem of dehydration and provides tips on how to ensure care home residents are encouraged to drink more in order to avoid it

Louise Walker, research communications officer at the Alzheimer’s Society, discusses the scale of the problem, the progress being made in the field of dementia research and what future research has in store