Enter and View: Fountain Lodge Nursing Home
We visited Fountain Lodge nursing home to ensure that people who may be vulnerable and less able to raise their voices have the opportunity to speak to us. We looked at how residents' physical health needs are supported.
We collected our information by speaking to four members of staff, three residents and two visitors.
Our recommendations:
- There should be one door bell for visitors to use and bells that are no longer working should be removed from the front entrance.
- Although the home does not specialise in dementia, it is good practice to use dementia friendly design
- Put in place clearer menus (preferably printed or pictorial) and give them to residents or put where they can see them.
- It is Healthwatch Coventry's view that shared rooms should not be used (other than for co-habiting couples), however, where this is necessary a more permanent but retractable screen should be installed in order to ensure dignity and privacy when giving personal care.
- Residents should be able to go outside more (residents expressed that they would like this) and therefore the work on the garden and activities plans should facilitate this.
- A regular program of daily activities needs to be implemented and more one-to-one activities introduced by carers. We recognise that the Activity Worker is new in post but as she only works 30 hours per week other staff should be able to get involved in activities with residents.
- Residents should be able to choose whether they would prefer to have a bath or a shower. Sufficient equipment which is fit for purpose (i.e. hoists) needs to be available in order for staff to be able to assist residents to have a bath if they would like one and there should not be confusion amongst staff about whether hoists are working or not.
- Hand rails should be installed in bathrooms to make them more useable by disabled residents.
- All residents to be encouraged to have something on their bedroom door in order to personalise them more such as photographs, names, etc.
- We were made aware that a new system has been put in place to enable staff to make recommendations, which was welcomed by staff. Staff expressed to us that they would like:
- A. opportunities to share their skills and knowledge within the team
- B. improvements to staff area: i. the staff room to be warmer ii. the staff room not used as a storage area
