Care Show Birmingham 2024: Editor’s review

Walking into this year's Care Show, one thing I immediately noticed was that some stands seemed bigger and taller than ever before. Like the skyscraper construction boom in Manhattan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, stands at the show seemed to be shooting upwards, with a notable example being Nourish's impressive effort, which boasted a sizeable visitor's lounge on its upper level. Who will have the most impressive stand in 2025, I wonder?

On the morning of Day One, The Care Show Environment team was pleased to be invited by Wiltshire Farm Foods Professional to try some of its latest texture modified meals, designed to comply to IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) standards for care home residents living with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). The Wiltshire Farm Foods Professional team — led by account manager Josh Hathi — were on-hand to serve an impressively comprehensive range of meals and take us through all the options available. While last-minute nerves about my imminent panel-hosting responsibilities (see below) prevented me from tucking in fully, I am pleased to report that the Chicken Tikka Masala option tasted delicious. Sophia Cornelius discusses texture modified diets and personalised nutrition on p 32 of this issue.

This year's Care Show marked my debut as a session host, when I chaired the session Dementia design: comfort or practicality? at the Design, Build & Environments Theatre. Joining me were speakers Melissa Magee, managing director and architect at Carless + Adams, Kerry Southern-Reason, CEO of The Care Home Interiors Company, Catalyst Interiors MD Mike Davies, Lynsey Hutchinson, senior interior designer at the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling, and Tom Price, sector lead — healthcare fitness & education, at Brewers Decorator Centres. Fielding questions such as "Should a dementia care home look like a hospital / clinical ward?"; "Are open plan and multi-functional spaces practical, and can they provide the appropriate levels of comfort for people living with dementia?"; and "What are the emerging trends in dementia design that prioritise both comfort & practicality?", the panel were every bit as informative, knowledgeable, and engaging as I knew they would be, and as my white-knuckle grip on the podium finally relaxed, the sizeable audience went away with plenty of inspiration as to how spaces designed for people living with dementia can remain practical and helpful without ever coming across as clinical or intimidating.