The Mills Meadow Care Home, Framlingham, has been awarded outstanding by Care Quality Commission inspectors.
Mills Meadow provides residential and dementia care for up to 60 residents.
The CQC awarded the care home as outstanding in two out of five categories; caring and responsive and good for safe, effective and well-led following the inspection, 10 July 2019.
Residents were extremely proud to live at Mills Meadow and described it as a 'home from home.’ In sharing numerous encounters and experiences of living at Mills Meadow, they spoke with happiness and fondness.
One person was keen to show inspectors their bedroom and the attention to detail that staff had shown in ensuring their preferences were met.
The residentsaid that, "Nothing was too much trouble. I chose the colours and [maintenance person] took the time to put up all my [personal objects]. They never complained, not once, even when I got them to move things around till it was just right. I like having my own things here; it has helped me settle in."
People were provided with a wide range of stimulating social and recreational activities that promoted their physical and emotional wellbeing. They were encouraged and supported to continue their interests, both within and outside the home. This contributed to an enhanced sense of purpose and belonging.
People and relatives were full of praise for the activities on offer. One person said, "Last week they had something on every day, one person went on a boat trip and Morris Dancers came in. Then they had open day on Saturday, the activities are phenomenal."
A popular weekly activity involved people creatively accessing the local community on Trishaws (type of rickshaw) pulled by staff and volunteers.
A resident said, "The rickshaw was very exciting, quite a few of us like it."
Another person described the sense of freedom it gave them to have the 'wind in their hair as they went around the town.’
A relative commented, "We went on the Trishaw. I did not expect to go, but we were able to sit side by side. We went quite a distance and it was lovely for her to see the greenery, they stopped so that we could get a lovely view of the castle."