Celebrity launch for new flagship care home

Lexicon Healthcare launched its flagship care home in Exeter on 13 November with a very special VIP in attendance, Angela Rippon OBE.

Over 80 people gathered to celebrate the launch of Green Tree Court and hear Angela’s experiences as a Broadcaster, journalist, presenter and Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The £7.5 million home features 68 large en-suite rooms, opulent interior design and 5-star facilities. The dementia care wing is working to attain the internationally recognised Stirling Gold Standard for dementia friendly design, which it is believed will make it a first in the West Country.

The University of Stirling champions the importance of design in creating spaces so that they actively support and enable people with dementia. People with dementia experience impaired memory, learning and reasoning and therefore become more reliant on their senses. The design at Green Tree Court is based around the principle of person centred support, recognising that everyone has different capabilities and needs, upholding their dignity, supporting the right to make their own choices and promoting independence.

The use of colour and contrast at Green Tree Court has been carefully planned to aid independent living. It supports residents to be able to easily identify different rooms and to find their way around unassisted. The contrast between floors and walls and consistent flooring is very important to aid navigation and independence, as contrasting edges can be perceived as a barrier by some people with dementia.  The beautiful, high quality upholstery fabrics have been very carefully selected in different colours to aid recognition of a 'favourite chair' and each lounge has a traditional three piece suite, giving it a really welcoming and homely feel.

People with dementia benefit from high levels of natural lighting and changes in daylight over the course of the day help to signal the passing of time and to maintain normal sleeping patterns. Natural light has been used wherever possible in designing Green Tree Court and the artificial lighting scheme has been designed not only to look beautiful but also to ensure there is a high level of control and flexibility for each resident’s needs.

There is so much to do at Green Tree Court, with plenty of social spaces to visit; quiet corners to read or larger spaces to meet friends. The facilities and activities cater for every taste and include a contemporary café, hairdressers, holistic therapy suite, cinema room, library and beautiful landscaped gardens to visit. Treatment rooms on every floor mean that where appropriate residents can ‘visit’ the medical team, rather than have care delivered in their private rooms. Green Tree Court’s Head Chef Owen Isaacs and his team showcased the home’s gourmet menu at the launch with a fantastic array of canapés. The team sources its ingredients from only the best GM free, locally sourced providers which where possible are organically produced.

Lexicon Healthcare’s CEO, Stephen Pattrick said: “We were delighted to welcome Angela Rippon OBE to launch our new flagship home in Exeter. As an Ambassador of the Alzheimer’s Society and with first- hand experience of the disease, she has worked tirelessly to champion the rights of people with dementia and improve their quality of life.

“From our 5 star design and facilities and restaurant- quality food, to our exciting and varied programme of activities, we offer clinical excellence combined with an enriching and fulfilling new lifestyle. This is why we believe Green Tree Court sets an exceptional blueprint for a new standard of care home in the UK.”

Lexicon Healthcare’s Managing Director Michelle Pattrick RN said: “Our vision in creating this beautiful home was to provide a luxury lifestyle but also equally importantly to deliver the very best clinical care and support, as Managing Director but also as a nurse, this is something I care passionately about. The Heads of department and myself have over 140 years of nursing experience between us and we are committed to delivering  residential, nursing and dementia care that is not only highly personalised, but focuses on the capabilities of the individual, not their limitations.

“A huge amount of time and effort has gone into ensuring that Green Tree Court will improve the quality of life and wellbeing of our clients. We are offering something unique and very special; the highest quality care but also the personal touches, tailoring the beautifully designed environment at Green Tree Court to make it their home. We are all very proud of what has been achieved, but more importantly the huge difference it will make to our resident's quality of life in the future.”

  Angela Rippon went on to say: “I was delighted to be back in the West Country to launch Green Tree Court.

“Dementia is the curse of the 21st century. We are an ageing population and it will touch us all. As an Ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society I know first-hand what it is like to be affected by this cruel condition. It is extremely pleasing to be here and witness the first class facilities and philosophy of care at the home, which will make such a huge difference to the resident’s quality of care and life.”

You can find out more about Green Tree Court by visiting the marketing suite at Green Tree Court, 81 Harrington Lane, Exeter, Devon, EX4 8NS, telephoning us on 01392 240400, emailing us at:enquiries@lexiconhealthcare.co.uk or visiting our website www.lexiconhealthcare.co.uk