Storage Considerations for Care Homes
The world has changed. Care Homes have been particularly affected by the Covid-19 novel virus, so going forward how much PPE and general equipment should be immediately on hand to keep vulnerable populations safe on short notice? We already know that hoists are always required and yet they continue to be found in many an unused assisted bathroom or pool area. Adequate storage is no longer a luxury in this sector, it is a requirement. In a competitive market it is NOT an advantage display your incontinence pad collection in public view. Most importantly, it is more respectful to Residents to have pads, slings and other medical supplies out of direct sight line when not required.
In the UK the National Minimum Standards published by the Department of Health require only (that):
- suitable provision is made for storage for the purposes of the care home
- suitable storage facilities are provided for the use of service users
So, what is…”suitable?” I often see care home rooms with a favourite armchair from the resident’s previous dwelling. It’s highly unlikely this will have been upholstered in a fabric in keeping fire regulations for a commercial property. Asking the family to re-upholster and provide a relevant certificate is one solution, but case goods generally require no such regulatory hoops. Having one’s own bookcase or wardrobe, in addition to private artwork, adds to the personalisation of a space.
If allowing case goods to be brought into your facility, please make sure your maintenance team checks each piece for safety, and especially the backs of wooden items for any sign of mould – and treat where necessary. Brought in furniture will have implications on the amount of storage required for any furnishings provided for that room which are not being used.
In an ROI calculation based on the number of resident rooms and occupancy, storage may not appear to offer value for money but that may be a short-sighted assessment. Losing a fitted-out resident room and en-suite to storage or losing an expensive spa bathroom for this purpose can be the poorer choice. If there is no facility for expansion within your existing facility, consider a small purpose-built storage facility on the grounds.