New opening
of Elm House features an EV charging station for two cars, and Jon tells me that the infrastructure is in place for another such station as and when required. Elm Lodge also employs roof-mounted 50 kWp solar panels, as well as innovative motion- sensing LED lighting along the corridors that save energy by activating only when they sense movement, although Jon tells me that, for safety reasons, one in four LEDs will remain on at all times. In addition, aware of incoming regulatory changes, Elm Lodge will recycle its food waste.
Planning permission for Elm Lodge
mandated a particular sustainability requirement, as Jon explains: “We have a travel management plan – that was part of our planning condition. There’s a dedicated travel management website, so when [staff] come on board, they see all the different [travel] options. So that includes notifying staff that we have a bike rack, that this is where the nearest train station is, and that we’re willing to use our company van to take you to the nearest bus stop or train station.” But, of course, given that Elm Lodge is
situated on an unlit country lane over a mile from the nearest train station, the reality is that staff will overwhelmingly drive to work.
Integrated technology Forest Care has integrated a suite of digital solutions at Elm Lodge, starting with the front-of-house information screen that greets visitors upon arrival. Powered by CoolCare, the prominent TV screen highlights at a glance which staff are currently on-shift, showing their photo and profile. The home’s care software, meanwhile, is supplied by Person Centred
Software, while the nurse call solution comes courtesy of Intercall.
When it comes to resident safety, Elm Lodge has CCTV in communal areas (but not in residents’ rooms), and every room has a private telephone. While additional safety features – pressure mats, movement mats, or Intercall wearables such as pendants and watches – can be installed as and when they might be required, Forest Care does not use an across-the-board solution such as acoustic monitoring or heatmapping, preferring instead to tailor care on a resident-by-resident basis. Jon reflects that many of these digital solutions are able to integrate with each other, making things far more effective than they would otherwise be when it comes to providing effective care and successfully onboarding staff. “We don’t want our carers having six different devices or apps on their phones,” he explains.
A clear vision
While Forest Care is keen to expand, it is sensibly doing so in an organic and measured way; taking a tried and tested model of building luxury care homes in an affluent area of high demand, and creating beautiful homes that combine the very best of personalised care with high-end interior design, luxury dining, and an unwavering attention to detail. We look forward to seeing what Forest Care does next.
n
SCAN HERE
to enjoy a drone video of Elm Lodge
https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=rsOeskhE3As
Suppliers list
Contractor – Cove Construction Interior design – Bright Bay Design Mechanical & electrical – J&B Hopkins & Malcolm Hitchman Electrical Laundry washing & drying – Miele Kitchen design/supply/installation – Fulcrum Bathroom sanitary fittings – HEWI Flooring – Danfloor Carpets & Polyflor & Altro Vinyl Furniture – Furncare
March 2025
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