Devonshire Court, RMBI Care Co’s ‘outstanding’ rated care home in Oadby, Leicestershire, has celebrated the opening of its new leisure mall, which has been designed to “bring the outside in.”
The Lifford Mall offers a dementia friendly environment with facilities which include a cinema, a bistro café, a hairdressing salon and a craft workshop.
Juliet O’Connor, home manager at RMBI home Devonshire Court, says: “The Lifford Mall provides our residents with an alternative, safe environment which they can enjoy independently. It’s quite separate to the residential area, so they can choose whether to go out or stay home. It’s like bringing the outside in.”
At present the new facilities are only available to residents and their families, but in the long term, the idea is to invigorate the home by inviting local community groups, schools and play groups to come and enjoy the new space alongside residents, to create a community hub which is vibrant and diverse.
O’Connort explains: “We have already had lots of volunteers who have helped us to create this wonderful, buzzy atmosphere - so at any given time, we've got someone making cocktails, films being enjoyed at our cinema, a singer performing while people are sat chatting in our bistro. It's wonderful, it's alive!"
Devonshire Court, which was rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission last year, is committed to constantly innovating to provide an exceptional environment that supports residents’ health and wellbeing.
So, what next at the home? O’Connor adds: “We've got so many ideas. We’ve got plans for a cycle track for our dementia bike, a chicken coop and an aviary, amongst other things!"
Mark Lloyd, managing director at RMBI Care Co, said at the mall opening: “Julie and her team are always thinking outside the box. There’s no limit to their ideas and their enthusiasm. We’re extremely proud of everything that’s been achieved at Devonshire Court, which has been reflected in their latest CQC rating.”
