Practical tips for working in care homes

With over 17,000 care homes in the UK, there is huge demand and opportunity for decorators in this sector. According to market researchers

AMA, “the demand for additional capacity within the care home market is likely to start rising again within the next couple of years. Covid-19 is likely to drive demand for larger and better-equipped care homes.”

In addition, “the pipeline for future development remains relatively strong, especially in parts of the UK such as the South East, while the next few years are expected to witness a growth in the number of alternatives to care homes, such as extra care facilities and retirement villages.”

Working in care homes can be incredibly rewarding, but comes with some unique challenges. Knowing how to tackle the difficulties of working in a live environment, and learning to expect the unexpected, is key to a successful care home project.

Every care home is different, not just in terms of layout and format, but also the residents it looks after. Regular communication between the decorator and care home staff is crucial, from planning through to

application, to ensure everything stays on track. It is also important to understand the needs of the staff and residents to keep disruption to a minimum, for example, letting staff know which rooms will be out of action, and when.

You should also plan supply deliveries to ensure staff and emergency services can access the car park. It is often difficult to store materials on site, so smaller, more regular deliveries should be organised.

Care home residents can be unpredictable, so it is important to keep the work area as tidy as possible. Leaving tools and materials unattended can be hazardous to both staff and residents. It is therefore crucial that everything is packed away at the end of the workday, and the additional set-up and set-down times factored into project timelines.

Presentation is also key. It is important to bear in mind that you are entering someone’s home, so arriving to the job in clean overalls shows respect for the people they are working amongst.

In addition, hi-vis jackets could be alarming for some residents, for example, those with dementia may be confused as to what this indicates.

In UK care homes, 70% of residents are thought to have dementia so offering advice about colour schemes and how to decorate with their residents in mind is worthwhile. Dulux Trade, alongside the British Research Establishment, created a Dementia Friendly Colour Palette. This helpful asset provides decorators and their customers with a range of colours to choose from when working in dementia care settings. It has been devised through years of experience in design and a wealth of dementia knowledge.

As well as choosing the right colours, the right product should also be considered... Dulux Trade Scuffshield contains the ultimate scuff-resistant technology for high traffic areas such as corridors, stairwells and hallways, while Diamond Matt includes stain-repellent technology ideal for settings that often need cleaning. On the other hand, Dulux Trade Sterishield Diamond Matt and Dual Active Matt contain additives that reduce populations of harmful bacteria – key for environments where vulnerable people are being looked after.

For further advice visit Occupant Centred Colour and Design in the Advice tab at www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk