As a non-profit organisation, Guild Care constantly reinvests in its three care homes; Caer Gwent, Linfield House and Haviland House. This ensures that Guild Care’s services, colleagues and facilities are bringing the best possible care and experience to residents.

In this article, Avallon McCormack, Registered Manager at Haviland House, discusses some of the enhancements that have been made at the home, and highlights the attention that goes into every detail.

Designed for dementia care

Haviland House is a purpose-built dementia care home, meaning that every detail is designed with our residents in mind. We have a unique household structure, with five areas that are each tailored to a different stage of dementia. Each household features spacious en-suite bedrooms, dining rooms and lounges with a homely feel that promote familiarity and independence. Lounges now have individual colour schemes, complemented by new soft furnishings, artwork, gentle lighting and tactile objects that invite comfort and engagement. Visitors are welcome at any time, and our communal areas provide a variety of places for family and friends to spend time with their loved ones.

The Elmer household, for example, is home to people at more advanced stages of their dementia journey. We recently reconfigured the area to make the best use of the space and to create more room for residents and their guests. We created an open-plan kitchen and dining room with a separate lounge where residents can socialise and enjoy company. The redesign also enabled us to add a new wet room, in addition to the ensuite facilities, which is spacious and wheelchair-friendly.

Familiarity and functionality

Each update is made sensitively and with our residents in mind, to ensure the spaces still feel familiar and homely. We pay particular attention to getting the right lighting, so that it strikes a balance between setting a cosy mood and boosting wellbeing at the same time as being bright and practical. Comfortable pairs of armchairs have been set with side tables near our big picture windows for natural light, and to encourage quiet conversation or companionship.

Furniture at Guild Care’s homes is sourced from a specialist supplier that ensures the designs are practical and aid mobility, while still looking inviting and stylish. 

The newly decorated lounge on Elmer Suite

Warm and calming colours

Colour can make a huge difference to people’s mood, and we apply colour philosophy to the different areas of Haviland House to set the right tone. For example, we have chosen fabrics that bring a sense of calm to bedrooms and areas where residents can relax, while our central first-floor activities room has an elegant deep blue and gold colour scheme. Known as the Ashmount Lounge, the space was transformed recently with new decor and luxurious fabrics that add a tactile, sumptuous feel.

The design is perfect for the variety of activities that take place in the Ashmount Lounge on a daily basis. With a new media wall and the latest technology, the lounge is also home to our cinema, where we screen films and shows for residents and their loved ones to enjoy. These recent updates, along with our ongoing commitment to provide the best care, are just some of the reasons why we are consistently rated highly by residents and their loved ones.

The newly decorated Ashmount Lounge

To find out more about life at Haviland House or any of Guild Care’s homes, please call our friendly Customer Relationship Team on 01903 327327 or email [email protected].