Monday 28 April 2014

Local Nursing Home to benefit from specialist facilities


A well-known nursing home in Worcester is expanding its dementia care support following the approval of plans for seven new specialist care bedrooms.

Stanfield Nursing Home in Rushwick provides nursing care for the elderly, as well as specialist dementia support.

A sod cutting took place this week to mark the start of the project, which will incorporate a new 260sqm extension that includes seven ‘dementia-friendly’ bedrooms - complete with en-suite bathrooms, as well as the provision of a community break-out space for residents. The design also includes a dementia-friendly garden, which incorporates raised beds and planting to stimulate the senses.

Sustainability is also high on the list of priorities for the nursing home. Worcester-based integrated building design firm, One Creative Environments Ltd (One), has created a low energy design to increase efficiency and help reduce operating costs, while local building contractor, Speller Metcalfe, will use its expertise to deliver the building to the highest sustainability standards. 

Externally, a feature oak and glazed façade will not only complement the Georgian style of the main house but will also create a light and airy activity space.

Bill Cave, Small Works Director at Speller Metcalfe said: “This is a fantastic project that will not only provide additional space for the nursing home, but more specialist care for residents with additional needs. 

As members of the local community we are proud to be part of such a project that will have a positive and lasting impact for both staff and residents.”

Craig Walding, Project Design Manager at One, added; “The scheme we’ve designed offers a flexible solution to the needs of the home and its residents, while its simplicity complements the existing building. We’re very excited to see the project start on site and the benefits it will offer to the client going forward.”

Richard White, owner of Stanfield Nursing Home, said; “This is an exciting step for the nursing home and it’s great to see our plans coming to fruition. The facility is part of our commitment to continuous improvement and our resident-focused care provision.”

Speller Metcalfe

Wednesday 23 April 2014

How a healthy young heart could cut risk of Alzheimer's: People with low blood pressure and cholesterol in their 20s have better brain function 25 years later

  • Study is one of the first long-term studies into Alzheimer's
  • It checked 3,330 18 to 30-year-olds every two to five years
  • There are 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK
Young people who keep their hearts healthy may be less likely to suffer Alzheimer's in later life, say researchers.

They found those with healthier levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol in their 20s had better brain function 25 years later.

People with small signs of deteriorating heart health when young were less likely to score well in cognitive tests in middle-age.

Read more....

Dementia diagnosis drive raises concern



Questions are being raised about the government's drive to increase dementia diagnosis rates in England.

Fewer than half of the estimated 670,000 people with dementia have a formal diagnosis, but ministers want to see this rise to two-thirds by 2015.

But a GP writing in the British Medical Journal warned the push could lead to over-diagnosis.

Meanwhile, the Alzheimer's Society said it was being undermined by the lack of support after diagnosis.

There is no cure for dementia, but there is some evidence that access to drug treatment and services, such as memory clinics, and activities such as singing and physical exercise, can help people remain independent for longer.

Read more....