- Care home
The Evergreens Lodge
Report from 7 February 2024 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
The Evergreens Lodge provides accommodation and personal care to up to 39 people who were over 65 years of age and may be living with dementia or physical disabilities. At the time of our assessment there were 29 people using the service, 2 of whom were in hospital. We conducted a site visit of the service on 19 and 21 March 2024. We spoke with people, staff and leaders, a healthcare professional, and reviewed records. We found a lack of oversight of medicines, and problems with medicines stock amounts and medicines administration records. Fire safety was compromised by fire extinguishers being overdue for servicing, and cupboards containing sanitiser were not locked due to a key being lost. These concerns along with inaccurate records of air mattress settings leaving people at risk of pressure wounds were a breach of legal regulations in medicines, premises, and equipment. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to our concerns. We were not assured there was good oversight of the service. We saw numerous concerns, inaccuracies and omissions in medicines that had not been identified in provider audits. There were sufficient staff to support people who were kind and provided person centred care. Relatives told us they believed their family member was cared for safely and in a person-centred way. People were supported to access healthcare services as needed.
People's experience of this service
Relatives believed their family members received safe care and treatment; however, people did not always agree as they felt unsafe at times due to other people living with dementia freely accessing their bedrooms without permission. A person told us, “There’s a woman who comes in sometimes early in the morning and switches my lights on. I ring the bell and the staff come. It really startles me and makes me feel worried. I’ve had to shut my door, but it’s not a nice feeling. The staff don’t always come quickly, so it’s a worry and not much is done about it.” Relatives told us, “Very happy with her safety, she is well cared for, no worries about it at all., general attitude of the staff, they look after people safely, no sign of any form of abuse ever.” And “No accidents or falls since she has been in there, security is good, staff let you in and out with a coded door.” People and their relatives had been involved in assessments and care planning. They confirmed that care plans were regularly reviewed, and all changes communicated to them. “I was involved in her Care Plan and assessing any risks, it gets reviewed.” A second relative told us, “We had a Care Plan following her emergency admission, very good, end of life discussed and will be reviewed.” People told us staff were kind and respectful and they were familiar with both the provider and the registered manager. A relative said, “Enough staff around for him and other residents, all moved around in a safe and controlled way, each person treated as an individual.” One person told us, “The staff are alright, I feel safe with them and have never felt uncomfortable with anyone.”