Harbour Healthcare

Harbour Healthcare, a leading name in dementia care, skilfully blends innovative approaches with personalised care to deliver top-quality services to residents. The organization actively looks for and implements evidence-based research, global best practices, and the latest technologies to ensure meaningful and positive outcomes for those it serves.

"We see the outcomes in the well-being and satisfaction of our residents, and that's truly the most rewarding part of our work," says Paul Courtney, director of development.

Harbour’s commitment to elevating the residents’ quality of life is shown through its innovative initiatives. For example, circadian lighting is integrated into dementia care homes, aligning with residents’ natural sleep-wake cycles to promote better rest and overall well-being. It trains the team in innovative developments like dementia interpreter programs. These initiatives aim to create a more personalised and supportive environment that enhances residents’ quality of life while ensuring safety, comfort, and overall well-being.

These novel approaches are rooted in globally recognised best practices. Harbour has adopted the UK's 'Making It Real' program, which emphasises individualised care through the ‘I Statements’ framework, focusing on providing tailored support to residents. It has also implemented the 'Think Local, Act Personal' initiative and the 'About Me' standard, all endorsed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), to provide responsive and compassionate care in its dementia homes.

Harbour also follows guidance from Stirling University’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC), a leading authority in dementia care best practices, particularly in creating supportive care environments. It aims to achieve DSDC accreditation for all its homes to align with these ambitious standards.

Nurturing Connections through Hubs

Personalisation is central to Harbour Healthcare’s philosophy, exemplified by the HarbourCommunity Hub program. This initiative transforms care homes into dynamic, engaging spaces where residents can actively connect with their lifelong passions in fulfilling and meaningful ways.

These realistic environments are brought to life by the dedicated Lifestyle Team, who use care planning software to collect detailed life histories of residents. The software helps the Lifestyle team to identify residents with shared passions and organise events and activities that foster interpersonal relationships and connections. From art to pet therapy, life skills kitchen, knit and natter groups and musicality sessions, the daily activities allow residents to combat boredom, isolation, and depression.

The Community Hub Program features fully functioning cafés, indoor cinemas for movie nights, sports areas for physical activities, private dining rooms for special occasions and intergenerational rooms that encourage families and grandchildren to connect with their loved ones in a comfortable setting. These mindfully curated spaces enhance the quality of life and foster connections among residents and their families, creating lasting memories that contribute to community belonging.

Harbour promotes community integration and intergenerational relationships. The care homes host schools, nurseries and community groups, creating opportunities for residents to engage with younger generations. For example, former teachers among the residents share their experiences with young students, inspiring future educators. The care homes are introducing learning centres equipped with tablets, laptops, and communication systems for the University of the Third Age. These centres help residents stay connected and provide lifelong learning and personal development opportunities.

Ensuring Quality of Life in a Safe Environment

Safety is central to Harbour’s operations, serving as the foundation for all activities and events offered to residents. Every resident undergoes thorough assessments to evaluate their abilities, preferences, and risks. This approach enables caregivers to tailor activities and interventions that meet residents' needs and ensure their safety. Before any event or activity is organised, a detailed assessment is conducted to evaluate potential hazards and outline safety measures to mitigate risks. For instance, if an outing is planned, the team considers transportation safety, environmental factors and individual health conditions.

In one instance, a bed-bound resident with a lifelong passion for music became the focus of a carefully planned outing. Despite his skin condition, which made mobility challenging, the staff sought specialised advice from physiotherapists and medical professionals and obtained a specialised glove sling that protected the resident's skin, allowing him to move from his bed to a suitable chair. This allowed him to attend a live music event, greatly improving his quality of life and overall well-being.

“We believe that residents should not leave their lives at the front door,” says Courtney. “Our community program has just received an Outstanding Outcome rating and was described as ‘excellent’ by the CQC.” Its outcome-based care model prioritises meaningful person-centred experiences with every safety aspect assessed and planned in advance, enabling residents to enjoy lifelong passions while staying safe.

In its pursuit of excellence and growth, Harbour Healthcare has established care homes throughout England and Wales, offering residential, nursing and dementia care. The strategic placement of these homes within local communities ensures that residents can easily stay connected with their families and maintain meaningful relationships.

As Harbour Healthcare implements innovative approaches across all facilities, it continues to lead in high-quality, person-centred care while preserving the warmth of connection and vibrancy of life for its residents.