Care home design


temperature – for example, to make it a warmer orange - can help people fall into better, healthier routines and sleep better too.


Sound Nowadays, with the advancements in smart tech, it is worth exploring integrating smart speakers around the care home. Having speakers built into the ceilings or walls allows everyone in a room to be able to hear the sound, which is important for those who are hard of hearing. You can also play music to fit the


mood of the home, such as a soft, ambient music during quiet times of the day and something more uplifting during activities and parties. During mealtimes, music is a good way to break up silence. At school, classmates chat with their


friends while eating amongst a loud backdrop of noise, but in a care setting, while the residents do like to chat with each other while eating, it can be very quiet. The clattering of plates and cutlery can disturb residents with health conditions, so having some soothing music in the background can be beneficial. Acoustics is also something worth


looking into if you own a care home that regularly hosts live entertainment such as music playing and singing.


Communal areas Make sure there are communal areas on all floors of the care home. Residents that struggle with mobility living on second and third floors, for example, may feel excluded and will not make the journey to the communal area if it is just located on the ground floor. Ideally, each floor should be self-contained with dining, rooms, loungers, bathrooms, and even offices for the staff to work in. In addition, facilities such as dining


rooms should be centrally located so they are not too far away from any of the residents’ rooms. Satellite lounges are also beneficial as


they allow residents who do not like the commotion of large gatherings to still relax outside their rooms. Ten small


lounges are much better than three large lounges as it gives residents more choice of the type of atmosphere they want to be in.


Gardens The outdoor setting of a care home is just as important as the indoor environment. Fresh air and open space to relax and wander in is crucial to the health and wellbeing of residents. Sensory gardens are great if you have residents with dementia and other memory loss conditions. Scented plants and water features


can be soothing and evoke positive feelings, while the colourful flowers with different textures can stimulate the senses. Dementia-friendly walking routes - where there are paths that circle around the garden and back to the home - are also encouraged, with daily exercise being important to the health of residents. You can also create an area where


residents can independently grow vegetables and fruit. This is a great activity that provides both a hobby and a sense of independence, while being something the whole family can get involved with when visiting. It is a very simple thing to do too, if you have the grounds to accommodate. All you have to do is carve up a little bit


of the estate and put in some raised beds and allotments. It is one of the best activities to offer in a care home.


Landscaping If you have the capacity to build water features at the home, make sure any pond-like structures are shallow. Hosting aquatic wildlife can provide hours of


42 Neil Gandecha


Neil Gandecha is estate manager of the 18-acre Foxholes care home near Hitchin in Hertfordshire. A family-run business, Neil has been working in the care sector for over ten years, following an eight-year career in the finance sector in London. Neil is passionate about designing spaces that enhance quality of life in residential care, and has spent his time at Foxholes creating an environment where residents have thrived in comfort and luxury since 2012.


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com• December 2020


relaxation and happiness, but do ensure the water level is shallow or you will have to build railings around it for safety reasons. Overall, there are many factors to


consider when designing a living environment in a care home, but they are crucial elements to ensuring the person is safe and comfortable – something every care environment should aspire to provide its residents.


TCHE


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