Contents and Comment


Matt Seex Editor mattseex@stepcomms.com


Luxury, innovation, and the highest standards of care


Editor


Matt Seex mattseex@stepcomms.com


Business Manager Mike Gammon


mikegammon@stepcomms.com Journal Administration


Katy Cockle katycockle@stepcomms.com


Design


Steven Dillon Publisher


Geoff King geoffking@stepcomms.com Publishing Director


Trevor Moon trevormoon@stepcomms.com


THE CARE HOME ENVIRONMENT is published monthly by Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR, UK.


Tel: +44 (0)1892 779999 Email: info@thecarehomeenvironment.com Web: www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


Over the past few months, it has been my pleasure to visit some of the most impressive care homes that England has to offer. Showcasing homes from Bath to London,


Oswestry to Littlehampton, and more, I hope to highlight not only the excellent architectural, design and construction work that goes into builds of this calibre, but also the unwavering dedication, hard work, and expertise of the people who manage and staff these impressive facilities.


There are currently around 17,000 care homes in the UK, with residential settings making up around 70 per cent of these. In 2023, self-funders accounted for around half of care home residents. At last count, over 400,000 people live in care homes in the UK, and the Alzheimer’s Society has stated that some 70 per cent of this total are living with dementia or severe memory problems. This means that over 250,000 people currently living in a residential home in the UK have some form of dementia. The Office for National Statistics


ISSN NO. 2398-3280 STEP COMMUNICATIONS


The Publisher is unable to take any responsibility for views expressed by contributors. Editorial views are not necessarily shared by the journal. Readers are expressly advised that while the contents of this publication are believed to be accurate, correct and complete, no reliance should be placed upon its contents as being applicable to any particular circumstances.


This publication is copyright under the Berne Convention and the International Copyright Convention. All rights reserved, apart from any copying under the UK Copyright Act 1956, part 1, section 7. Multiple copies of the contents of the publication without permission is always illegal.


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com A review of


the latest Care Home openings


New Build Projects


Luxury, innovation, and the highest standards of care


In this issue


5 Elm Lodge: luxury care in peaceful Hampshire 11 Bluebell View: high quality care in historic Oswestry 16 Brownscombe House: CHD Living celebrates forty years of care 21 Norden House: a ‘household’ approach to dementia care 26 Luxury care in Bath: Hallmark takes the plunge 30 Luxury care in Highgate: a Signature approach


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 3


has predicted that almost a quarter of the UK population will be aged 65 or older by 2042 – a significant increase from 2016’s 18 per cent. Despite this trend, according to carehome. co.uk, the overall number of care beds has seen a drop in recent years – while the number of care home beds stood at 488,518 in January 2022, this had fallen to 487,485 (a loss of 1,033 beds) by the end of the year. While there is a continuing trend towards larger care homes


– with more beds per home – there remains a growing demand for care home spaces. It should come as no surprise, then, that new care homes seem to be popping up in every town across the country. The homes featured in this supplement could perhaps be considered trailblazers – not just when it comes to using the latest in innovative safety technology, or in terms of cutting-edge and high-end interior design, or in treating residents to best-of-class on- site facilities and catering, but also in their relentless pursuit of the highest standards of person-centred care. I very much enjoyed visiting these homes and chatting to the people who make them tick. I sincerely hope you enjoy this special issue. If you would like us to feature your new


care home in The Care Home Environment, please get in touch with me at mattseex@stepcomms.com.


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