New opening
as to how quickly it gets into tune with a resident’s sleep habits. It will monitor if somebody gets up and spends five minutes in the bathroom, so if they don’t return from the bathroom, it’ll send out an alert.” However, this is just the start of the facilities and services on offer at Midford Manor.
“We’ve got our own physiotherapist,” Sally tells me, as she outlines what residents can expect. “Physiotherapy is included, your weekly hairdressing, your weekly manicure, all of that. Everything is done in-house – all of that’s included in the fees for our residents, including their podiatry, a weekly pedicure, massage, which is quite unusual, because that’s normally an optional extra [for other providers].” The physiotherapist is a permanent staff member at Midford Manor and runs one-to- one sessions as well as communal exercise groups – a real selling point according to Sally, who says that the in-house physio has been “a real contributing factor for people deciding to choose this home.” For residents living with dementia, Midford Manor provides Namaste care in a dedicated sensory room. Namaste care refers to a selection of tailored sensory activities which have been proven to improve resident wellbeing – this can consist of a hand massage, activities based around sensory reminiscence, or food and drink treats. According to Hallmark, engaging with the Namaste programme has seen residents increase their weight and fluid intake, and has had a positive impact on their interactions with loved ones and other residents. Hallmark staff undergo training from Namaste Care International
before they are able to provide Namaste care at a Hallmark home.
Midford Manor will also see Hallmark continuing to trial and implement new technology under the leadership of head of innovation, Claire Johnsen. In 2023, the provider launched its Corporate Connections challenge in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs, which looked for innovative solutions to improve energy consumption and sustainability and measure residents’ hydration across Hallmark’s homes. The announcement of a winning solution is expected later this spring.
The importance of sustainability When deciding on a care home, prospective customers are increasingly asking providers to prove their green credentials. Hallmark
is no exception, and takes its environmental responsibilities seriously.
“All of our homes – including Midford Manor – run off 100 per cent green electricity,” Verity explains. “We have electric car charging points at our home and all of our waste is recycled. We’ve launched an ESG committee this year, as we know this is important to our customers, and we are looking at how we can reduce our carbon footprint across all of our homes. “We have a PV [Photovoltaic] system
installed at Midford Manor, which converts light into electricity,” she continues. “We also have a fully electric minibus. “The majority of our regional team have
fully electric cars. We’re documenting how much paper we’re using. But there’s still work to do.”
Another winner
Before my visit to Midford Manor came to a close, we sampled a three-course meal typical of what Midford Manor residents can expect. Served to us by hospitality services manager Andrew Ferris, the deep fried Camembert, roast lamb, and profiteroles were delicious, and did a great job of setting me up for the drive home.
Hallmark clearly has another winner on its hands with Midford Manor. Although the provider is busy building new homes and acquiring future sites, it is clear from homes like Midford Manor and Angmering Grange before it that Hallmark will not be cutting any corners when it comes to opening new luxury care homes that boast the high-spec finish, attention to detail, and comprehensive services that its customers have rightly come to expect.
May 2024
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
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