What should families consider when choosing residential dementia care? 

Dementia care needs to be personcentred and grounded in expertise, empathy and consistency. Outram Fields is part of the award-winning Cinnamon Care Collection, the first large luxury care group in the UK to roll out dementia accreditation with NaDCAS (National Dementia Care Accreditation Scheme) to all its care homes. 

The NaDCAS framework focuses on nine key assessments designed to support people living with dementia. These include care teams ensuring daily interactions promote meaningful engagement and independence; a care home environment that is welcoming and familiar and aims to cultivate social warmth and a strong sense of belonging; care teams that build trusting relationships with residents and leadership that ensures a positive culture of care remains consistent in all interactions.

How do you accommodate people with different stages of dementia? 

That is such an important question and central to why we have opened a new dementia floor. The new floor is for residents that have early-stage dementia characterised by a gradual decline in cognitive, functional and behavioural abilities. These residents need care that supports their personal capabilities and encourages independence, As necessary, these residents can move to our existing specialist dementia floor expertly designed to incorporate the latest insights in dementia care.  

What about the dining experience for residents with dementia? 

Our ethos is to provide delicious, freshly prepared home cooked food and to deliver the most exceptional dining experience in the care industry. If a resident with dementia is on a modified diet, they will still be able to have anything from the menu, as chefs are trained to IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) and all homes take part in regular IDDSI workshops, so kitchen and care staff understand textured and modified diet requirements. 

Why is design important in dementia care? 

Last year Outram Fields won the prestigious Healthcare Design Awards for Best Interior Design. We understand that careful consideration of sensory stimulus can minimise stress and distress for people in the later stages of dementia. As appropriate we use a ‘wayfinding strategy’ as a customised tool to assist residents with dementia to navigate their way around. 

The strategy incorporates themed objects and artwork at decision points along corridors that act as orientation landmarks. Residents are actively encouraged to engage with displayed items, and each distinctive landmark is designed to be visually pleasing to residents and not clinical or patronising. 

Our new dementia floor has two beautifully designed large outside terraces, as engaging with nature is vital for the wellbeing of our residents.  

Do you run community dementia initiatives?

Yes, last year we invited residents’ families and members of the local community onboard a virtual dementia tour bus to gain an insight into what it feels like to live with dementia. This ‘dementia experience’ involved wearing glasses to impair vision, insoles that make walking uncomfortable and a device to inhibit hearing. By altering the participants’ senses, the Virtual Dementia Tour is the only scientifically and medically proven method of giving a person with a healthy brain the experience of living with dementia to gain a greater understanding about how to improve the care for a loved one who is on a dementia journey.

How do you differ from competitors?

We are fortunate to be able to be very selective when recruiting our care staff. Every member of our team is skilled, patient, compassionate and willing to go that bit further to reassure residents. I also feel our approach to offering two distinct communities to support residents living with dementia is key. Having this new floor to support people with early onset dementia will ensure families see their loved one thrive in an appropriate community, with the capability to move to our late-stage dementia floor as needed.

We like to think we offer something special, that illustrates the difference between good care and great care. Our aim is to help older people live happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives and give peace of mind to their families who entrust us with their wellbeing. 

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