17th April 2009
Royal Star & Garter's New Care Home Wins National Design Award
The Royal Star & Garter Charity is delighted that its new care home in Solihull, West Midlands, has won the Elderly Care (more than 60 beds) category in the Pinders Healthcare Design Awards 2009. The Awards seek to acknowledge the contribution made by designers, architects, and the owners of care homes, hospitals and other care schemes to the well-being and quality of life for those in their care.
The Charity has been caring for the disabled ex-Service community at its Richmond, Surrey, Home since 1916. It has now embarked on an ambitious programme to build new care homes around the country in areas where a need is identified and, for the first time, will include the ability to offer dementia care. The Solihull Home which opened last August is the first of these new purpose-built care homes.
When planning the Solihull Home, the CEO and the Executive team were keen to ensure that, while creating a unique, stylish building reflecting the Charity's history and status as a leading and innovative care provider for the ex-Service community, it would also fulfil all the needs of modern, quality care. In keeping with the Charity's philosophy, it was also essential to design a building that would encourage independence, and offer dignity and choice for every resident in spacious, safe and comfortable surroundings.
Working closely with the architects, Scurr & Partners, every aspect of the new home was thought through very carefully. A full mock up of a resident's room with en suite facilities was created in the Richmond Home, and consultation with residents and relatives provided valuable feedback.
The Solihull Home has 60 bed-sitting rooms with ensuite shower, toilet and washing facilities - 45 for those requiring nursing care, and 15 rooms in a separate specially-designed unit to meet the growing need to accommodate residents with dementia. This unit, called The Roundel Wing, has been generously funded by the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
Light and space are features of the building. Residents' bed-sitting rooms are approximately 16.5 square metres and have large and low windows to enable them to enjoy views over gardens or parkland, overhead tracking to make it easy to transfer from bed to shower room, and an electrically operated bed to maximise comfort and safety, and facilitate personal care and one-to-one therapy.
Other facilities include a large dining room, a café and bar, therapy and activity rooms for group activities and exercise, a library and computer area, a hair and beauty salon and a sizeable garden with a separate sensory garden, all set in beautiful and accessible surroundings next to a park.
Receiving the Pinders Awards trophy, the Charity's Chief Executive, Mike Barter, said: "We would like to thank the architects Scurr and Partners for designing such an attractive building to our exacting requirements. We, and our residents, are delighted with the final result which encourages a relaxed and non-institutional atmosphere. We are also grateful to Pinders for this splendid award and recognition."
Photo Caption: The Royal Star & Garter Homes’ Chief Executive, Mike Barter (centre), shows the Solihull Home’s residents Ronald Careless and Maire Turner the Pinders Healthcare Design Awards trophy.