Extension and refurbishment
do, although getting the staff to be able to understand and use everything that it offers is a challenge.” “Technology drives efficiency,”
Shaleeza says. “It saves a lot of money. We were early trailblazers of electronic care planning. We use a very sophisticated CRM [customer relationship management] system to monitor our sales, enquiries, and occupancy. We use that data for insight and analysis into who our customer is and what they want.”
Currently, CHD is using acoustic monitoring and AI to improve falls prevention, partnering with smart lamp developer Nobi to implement a discrete and dignified way of keeping residents safe by learning about their patterns of movement and, should a fall sadly occur, analysing the data to better understand why that fall occurred and how another fall might be prevented. Liakat explains that Nobi “ … changes the intensity of the light depending on your movements. If it’s the middle of the night and the individual tries to sit up in bed, the light will get brighter. If they then try to get off the bed, the life will get even brighter. If they make their way to the washroom, it will turn itself onto full light.” By preventing residents from “trying to shuffle around in the dark,” the technology should go some way to preventing falls. Shaleeza points out that where you might have a family who are nervous about putting their loved one into a care home, this technology goes a long way towards giving them the reassurance they need to take that step. CHD is also rolling out Alexa Smart Properties technology, which will integrate with the provider’s care planning software, enabling residents to use their voice to do everything from switching off the lights and closing the curtains, to requesting a cup of tea. In the latter example, the request will go straight to the care home’s kitchen – a
great example of how technology can bring about the most efficient response by routing requests to the correct member of staff.
Period features Following our chat, Shaleeza showed me around the now 55-bed Brownscombe House, which was a hive of activity as staff busied themselves with the final preparations for the afternoon’s celebrations.
Each part of the home – the ‘original’
Brownscombe House and the newer ‘Lodge’ – feel distinct from each other despite consistently high standards of design and décor having been applied throughout. The refurbishment of the older part of the home means that corridors are airy and wide and room sizes generous, with most of them boasting en suite wet rooms. The ‘main’ building retains its ‘stately home’ charm, with sloping ceilings on the upper level, and period features throughout – not least those highly impressive Nepalese doors. Communal areas were bustling with residents enjoying their lunch, relaxing, and getting ready for the party.
The ‘new’ part of the home, meanwhile, features the amenities and facilities that have come to define the modern care home – including a cinema, bistro, and hair salon. Meanwhile, the original cottage – once home to the Hasham family – is now Brownscombe Cottage, a collection of eight supported-living apartments that further enhance and broaden the care offering available at Brownscombe House.
A well-earned celebration
Members of the Hasham family, residents and their families, staff from other CHD Living homes and care services, local dignitaries, and a visiting petting zoo of pigs, donkeys, sheep, and goats, were all present and correct for the afternoon’s 40
18
year anniversary celebrations, which took place on the terrace that links the original Brownscombe House to the more recent additions to the home. Guests were treated to warm, sunny
weather, speeches and live music, and an impressive barbeque buffet courtesy of the Brownscombe House kitchen staff, and I was able to take the opportunity to chat to CHD Living’s friendly and enthusiastic team, including Hasham family members Shaheed and Nazira. Forty years in, it is clear that CHD Living is in very safe hands, and can only go from strength to strength over the next forty years.
Suppliers list
Developer: CHD Living Ltd Architect: Crafted Architects Contractor: BSP Projects South Ltd Interior design: CHD Living Ltd and Edison & Day Furniture: Edison & Day Beds: Accora Laundry machines: The OPL Group Kitchen: HCE Catering
n
SCAN HERE
Scan here to view a walkthrough of Brownscombe House
https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=yaRMdMWAd2I
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com October 2024
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