Enter and View: Aspen Lodge Residential Care Home

This was an unannounced Enter and View visit which was conducted in response to intelligence received by Healthwatch Wolverhampton from a complainant. During the visit the Authorised Representatives carried out observations, talked to residents, relatives and staff.

Summary of Findings

• Residents we observed and spoke to looked relaxed and comfortable.
• The home had a very nice atmosphere and was overall odour free and clean.
• The home caters very well for residents’ cultural needs and communication needs.

Authorised Representatives made the following recommendations:

1. For residents to freely use the conservatory area, keep the door unlocked and disconnect the power lead causing potential trip hazard. Store stacked wheelchairs elsewhere.
2. Provide notice board in a prominent place for information purposes, good news items, events would prove beneficial for relatives and visitors.
3. Feedback box to capture the views of relatives and visitors.
4. More frequent coffee mornings would build on the good work already being done with involvement of families and visitors.
5. More frequent residents meetings to generate more ideas within the home and different initiatives to help interaction and engagement even further.

This report was produced by the previous Healthwatch Wolverhampton service provider, Engaging Communities Solutions CIC.