Enter and View: Ashby House care home

The purpose of this Enter and View programme was to engage with residents, their relatives, or carers, to explore their overall experience of living in Ashby House care home. As well as building a picture of their general experience, we asked about experiences in relation to social isolation and physical activity.

Summary

The Home is registered to provide care for a maximum 64 of residents and at the time of our visit there were 52 residents at the home, 37 of whom had a diagnosis of dementia. A total of 7 residents and family members took part in these conversations. In respect of demographics: three of the residents we spoke to were male and four were female with ages ranging from 80 to 93 years of age. 

What we found

Staff were generally well liked by residents. Bedbound residents’ feel their personal care could be better; some family members told us that their loved ones did not have regular showers/baths. Family members of residents did believe their loved ones are safe and residents themselves repeated this sentiment. When asked if staff treated residents with respect and dignity most responses were positive. We were told by the management team at our introduction meeting that the home has not had a requirement for interpreters, even though they have residents whose first language is not English.

What people told us:

"Staff engage well with my [loved one] and respect [their] needs."

"Staff just come in and carry on, they only bother to knock if the door is shut."

"Staff are absolutely superb, get my sense of humour."

Our recommendations include:

(Not actioned from 2024 visit)

• We suggest that it might be useful for both staff and residents if the CNWL Incontinence team were asked to come in and offer staff some refresher training on the correct use of continence products. It may also be helpful for residents to receive some education around these products as this may change their perception that they are being rationed. No evidence this has been actioned during resident conversations 2025.
• More residents eating in the dining rooms would have an added benefit of meals being delivered more quickly and remaining hot. While it may take more staff time to transport people, the majority would be freed up to continue with other tasks rather than attending individual rooms to deliver food and assist with eating where necessary. On the day of our visit 50% of residents still ate in their rooms even though there was an improvement in numbers in the dining rooms.
• Ensure that the planned programme of works includes and prioritises the general maintenance, such as working showers, that have the greatest impact on residents. 

New recommendations from 2025 visit include:

• Provide interpreters for those residents whose first language is not English.
• Consider ways of improving the ratio of shower/bathing facilities at the care home, at the moment 52 residents using 2 showers and 3 bathrooms is causing problems.