We are proud to announce that Fremantle Court, our flagship 90 place residential and nursing care home in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire has been awarded a Gold Standard from the University of Stirling Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC).

Stirling University’s Dementia accreditation is a highly-respected independent audit that assesses environments used by people living with dementia. The Gold Standard, the Centre’s highest possible rating is given for meeting a series of criteria in design and operations specifically for people with dementia.

Built during 2013/14, the aim was to create a home which offered the very best in dementia friendly design.  By working closely with architectural firm, Hunters, design concepts were introduced that addressed specific needs of people living with dementia.

Hunters broke new ground by using slatted timber screens and ‘floating’ bookcases, which maximised residents’ visual access whilst retaining defined spaces.  They also introduced splayed corridors to assist residents in way finding and the corridors themselves were redefined as living spaces.

The whole home has been designed to be ‘dementia friendly’ – even areas not intended for dementia care. There is a dementia friendly lift, a residents’ laundry room on designated wings and all toilet and bathroom doors across the home are the same colour.  All the walls have been painted in non-reflective colours and in a palette that is dementia friendly.

Commenting on the benefits of the design, Jan Lovett, Service Manager at Fremantle Court said:

The layout of the home means that there are lots of different spaces for residents and their families to use, some where people can engage with others and some where people can spend private or quiet time. Residents can independently access all core areas and staff can observe people without intruding on their space. The splayed corridors work really well and they have reduced isolation for those residents who remain in their rooms.

The DSDC team at the University of Stirling adds:

This building demonstrates a high level of attention to dementia design from the overall layout to the small details.  Some unexpected and inspiring features include silent extractor fans, see-through shelved partitions between the corridors and the communal areas, a residents’ laundry room and a dementia friendly lift.