FEATURE ARTICLES

With unprecedented demand on health and care services during the Covid-19 crisis, robust solutions for adapting spaces quickly for high intensity use have become vitally important. Altro EU technical services manager Roger Moore explores how to select floor and wall solutions that are up to the task.

Tom Lumsden, a partner at CooperBurnett, considers how the proposed abolition of the assured shorthold tenancy (AST) in England could affect care homes and care home residents in the future.

Good acoustic performance is at the heart of creating an inclusive and comfortable space. Whatever the age of the building, there are a number of ways of controlling noise in a care home, says Joe Hurst, key account manager – social care at Altro

David Hindle, head of door closer sales at Assa Abloy Opening Solutions UK, discusses the main considerations when specifying new door closers for a care home site, covering key issues such as certification, performance and flexibility

Chris Whieldon, sales director for Teal Patents Ltd, discusses how the use of portable sinks has helped the NHS to control infection outbreaks and support facilities maintenance, an approach that could also offer benefits in residential care homes

Greater energy efficiency is undoubtedly the key to running a care home that is more sustainable in terms of both financial viability and environmental impact, according to Mark Elton, certified Passivhaus architect at Cowan Architects

Bill Sinclair, technical director, Adveco, discusses the operational costs and the environmental impact of onsite energy co-generation and highlights the increasing performance gap between ‘dirty CHP’ and the latest generation of highly efficient micro-CHP

Disabling environments make life with dementia harder than it needs to be, but problem solving and designing with people with dementia can help eliminate most of those problems, says Dr Julie Christie, service manager (international) for HammondCare

Silas Campbell at Blueleaf discusses how technology is impacting on and enhancing the way care homes are run; from smart home integration relieving stress and demand for staff to robots helping to fight loneliness in residents

The advances being made in applicable care home technology are extremely exciting, but more than that, innovation must be used to help alleviate a crisis that is only set to worsen, says Kirk Taylor, head of development at Kajima Partnerships

The cost of replacing a carpet is typically twice that of regular maintenance and inhouse cleaning will result in an even greater saving, says Howard O’Brien, joint managing director and head of sales and service partner relations, Traffik UK

While the winter weather may be unpredictable, plans should be put in place to protect residents, staff and visitors from potential hazards. Peter Fane, founding director of Nurture Landscapes, provides some tips to help care homes stay safe and operational

A homely environment can help residents settle, put them at ease and provides reassurance. It can also be beneficial for family members who may have complex feelings about their loved ones living in a care home, says David Shannon, New Vision

With calls to reduce pressure on social services and help enable those with dementia to live well for longer, Lisa Pilley, colour consultant at Dulux Trade, discusses how design and architecture are playing their part in tackling the challenge

While talking about a new starter’s ‘experience’ may seem ill-defined, we intuitively know what is required to create the best possible experience. Get onboarding right and it can deliver major benefits, says Simon Connell, sales manager, Webonboarding

Many of us will have experienced stress and anxiety when needing the toilet and being unable to locate one. In people with dementia, these feelings are multiplied, but a toilet strategy can help to alleviate the problem, says Catherine Ingleby, marketing executive, Find Memory Care

Thermal skirting systems can provide sufficient heat at lower temperatures for most of the year, while still working at higher flow temperatures during the worst days of winter, says Martin Wadsworth, managing director, Discrete Heat

Given that a relatively high proportion of workers in care homes come from other EU states, it is important that operators and employees regularly review any changes to Brexit arrangements, says Tom Lumsden, a partner at CooperBurnett LLP

If we cannot match local supply to local demand for elderly residential care, many people will continue to be cared for miles away from the area in which they lived, says Mike Short, founder and director of CSI Market Intelligence

Jim Lowther, sales director, Xtralite, discusses the positive impact that natural light can have on the wellbeing of care home residents and how this can be achieved in both new build and renovation projects