People told us what it was like to live at this home and described how they were treated by staff and their involvement in making choices about their care. They also told us about the quality and choice of food and drink available. This was because this inspection was part of a themed inspection programme to assess whether older people living in care homes are treated with dignity and respect and whether their nutritional needs are met. The inspection team was led by a CQC inspector, joined by a practising professional and an 'expert by experience' (a person who has experience of using services and who can provide that perspective).
We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
We saw and heard staff speaking with people in an appropriate manner and staff had a good understanding of what people's body language was telling them. During our observations we saw that people interacted freely with staff. We observed that staff supported them in a way that promoted people's self esteem and individuality.
There were some aspects of the service provided that did not show respect for people's dignity and needs. For example, on entering the dementia unit there was an unpleasant smell. The dining room had dust on the skirting boards and stains on the walls. The flooring was ripped in places and was ill-fitted. The time on the clock was incorrect, which can be disorientating for people with memory impairment. There was a wipe board that had details of a person's hospital appointment displayed on it and also which person resided in each bedroom.
We saw that people had a choice of when and where they ate their meals. Some people chose to have their meals sat in the lounge, some in their bedroom and others went to the dining room.
Staff members that supported people with their meals were tactful and patient.
In our discussions with people they told us they were asked what they would like for their meal from the menu. They said there was always at least two choices and a choice of hot and cold drinks. People's comments about meals included, 'There's always plenty of food and if I fancy a little something during the day the staff always get it for me' and 'The food is a lot better than hospital food.'
We saw that drinks and bowls of fruit were available in the lounge.