Forest Care Village, a private specialist centre in Borehamwood offering dedicated 24/7 nursing care, has showcased a remarkable new interior, following significant investments in a new atrium, communal areas and private living spaces to bring wellness-boosting hygge to the centre.
Officially commissioned by Mayor Dan Ozarow, the Veteran Friendly Framework-accredited care centre designed the new interior with soft lighting, natural planting, and calming, tranquil colours, recognising the value of these accents to soothe the senses.
The impacts of thoughtful, resident-centred design at Forest Care Village, Borehamwood
With an open day that was characterised by laughter and fun, Forest Care Village celebrated with a range of activities and treats for guests, visitors, loved ones, dignitaries and, of course, staff and residents. This included games, goodie bags and musical performances from Tim, who played the guitar and encouraged all the residents to sing and clap along.
This community spirit and inclusivity are at the heart of the redesign, which is about more than sophisticated shades and the peacefulness of hygge, a theme centred on cosiness, warmth and comfort that ensures the care centre feels like a genuine home from home.
Increasingly seen as a best practice way to ensure that care and healthcare settings are welcoming rather than clinical, the Danish concept has been shown to:
● Reduce anxiety and stress, especially for older adults and those with cognitive conditions
● Remove the discomfort and fear often associated with clinical environments
● Lower cortisol levels, ensuring the space feels secure, safe and uplifting
● Increase social connections with seating layouts and lighting that enhance each person’s ability to chat, connect, and feel relaxed enough to engage in games or activities.
Importantly, hygge is as much sensory as it is decorative, an aspect the Forest Care Village took great care in replicating. It has used soft, thick fabrics and pale woods to boost the flow of natural sunlight, and gentle LED illuminations to remove the stark, industrial lighting more commonly associated with residential and nursing care.
Reflecting on the transformation of Forest Care Village
Registered Manager, Momarr Camara from Forest Care Village says, "We were blown away by the number of people who came to celebrate the culmination of this ambitious project, and it was fantastic to see residents and family members we know so well spend quality time with guests of every background and age!
"The new atrium might be the focal point, and it is absolutely gorgeous, but it’s the reaction from residents that holds the most value for us as a care team. The delight at the way individual living spaces have been redecorated to amplify light and space has been particularly positive, with residents able to rest and relax in the privacy of their own rooms or join the busy schedule of entertainment and activities we host in our communal spaces.
"I’d like to take the time to thank every staff member who has gone above and beyond to work around the redesign, and the enthusiasm and support they’ve shown, and to our designer, who listened so attentively to what we wanted to achieve."
Amanda Scott, Forest Healthcare CEO, who first joined the company as a Care Assistant, commented that, "Forest Care Village has always been a warm, friendly place to be, but the hygge concept has been a huge success, and has given the centre the feel of a countryside escape.
"While we place huge importance on the quality of the nursing and care support we offer our residents, it’s also vital to think about the little touches we can add to improve quality of life. Paying attention to the joy of community and connection is always time and effort well spent."
About Forest Care Village and Forest Healthcare
Forest Care Village is one of two flagship centres opened by Forest Healthcare back in 1999, alongside Ash Court Care Centre in London. From those early days, the business has expanded rapidly, now with 13 individual care and nursing settings that have won numerous accolades and industry recognitions.
Best known for its innovative, family-feel care approach, Forest Care Village prides itself on accessibility and is among the first UK care facilities to have voluntarily pursued accreditation under the Veteran Friendly Framework to better support the needs of residents with military backgrounds.
The full redesign and images of the setting’s interior are available via the Forest Care Village pages on the Forest Healthcare website, with a video walkthrough to introduce those new to the centre to its layout.
Contact:
Tel: 02082 362000
Email: thevillage@foresthc.com
Web: foresthc.com/our-care-centres/forest-care-village/
10-20 Cardinal Avenue, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1EP
About Forest Healthcare
Forest Healthcare is an established care provider dedicated to consistently delivering an outstanding quality of life to the residents they serve. With a network of care centres across South-East England, Forest Healthcare specialises in catering to a wide range of care requirements, including; residential, nursing, dementia and specialist care. The organisation’s mission is to provide a family feel to the exceptional care they deliver by valuing, respecting and caring for each and every person who lives and works at Forest Healthcare.
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