Enter and View: The Willows
We visited The Willows nursing home to ensure that people who may be vulnerable and less able to raise their voices have the opportunity to speak to Healthwatch, and to look at how residents' physical health needs are supported.
We collected our information by speaking to the manager, three members of staff, including a nurse, three residents and two visitors.
Our recommendations
- Introducing pictorial menus in the dining room could be beneficial to those residents who have dementia or are sight impaired.
- All rooms in the home should be adequately heated to avoid the use of portable heaters (as they become very hot to touch) and to ensure that use of such heaters is risk assessed.
- Staffing: Manager to look into taking on an apprentice to work with the handyman and having an additional carer during the morning shift.
- Rather than having the television on most of the time in all the lounges, introduce the use of CDs and DVDs of films and songs from the era of the residents to stimulate residents' memories.
- Find a more suitable space where wheelchairs and walking aids can be stored rather than in the lounge as this was obstructing access to the table.
