The three care homes are located in Edinburgh and housing within Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.

Following the development of the Scottish Government’s first Dementia Strategy in 2010 and publication of the Promoting Excellence Framework in 2011, Viewpoint has focussed heavily on ensuring all employees, whether working in the kitchen, or as a receptionist, a finance manager or director, receive some level of education about dementia. Viewpoint has also produced two dementia strategies.

The following extract is taken from Viewpoint’s Dementia Strategy 2016 - 2020

We will continue with our work on creating an enabling environment. We will audit the physical environment of our services using a validated “Dementia Friendly” checklist, and will create an action plan to remedy any deficits by December 2016. This may involve introducing new ideas about colour, furnishings, signage, way finding and installing new technologies such as “telehealth” to help people with dementia maintain their health and independence.

Dementia friendly environments have been created not only in the care homes, but also in two dementia show-flats that Viewpoint designed within its sheltered housing complexes. One such flat is located at the Croft n Righ complex at the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. It features dementia friendly signage and cupboards to demonstrate how these can help with orientation for someone living with dementia. This allows prospective and current tenants to visualise how dementia friendly design and equipment can empower them to live at home longer.

Viewpoint will continue to work with Stirling University’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) to ensure that current ideas and suggestions are incorporated in its homes where possible.