Springfield Vale Recognised with University of Stirling Gold Dementia Design Award
Springfield Vale, an Exemplar Health Care home in Barnsley, has achieved a Gold Design Award from the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at the University of Stirling, recognising how its purpose-built environment supports people living with complex dementia to maintain their independence, confidence and day-to-day routines.
Following an independent assessment using the DSDC’s Environments for Ageing and Dementia Design Assessment Tool, the home achieved an overall score of 93%, placing it among just 14 care homes across the UK to hold the organisation’s highest level of accreditation.
The award emphasises the importance of the physical design of care settings and how this complements expert nurse-led care to improve everyday experiences for people living with dementia.
Springfield Vale was designed to support adults living with complex dementia, including people with high acuity needs, secondary diagnoses and co-morbidities, as well as those who have experienced previous placement breakdowns in less well adapted care settings. The home enables people to receive expert nursing care in a community-based home, close to family and loved ones.
The assessment highlighted a range of environmental features that help people navigate their surroundings more confidently and maintain independence, including strong colour contrast, clear visual cues, vision panels that allow people to identify rooms before entering, and circadian lighting that mirrors natural daylight patterns.
Assessors also recognised the home’s accessible sensory garden, welcoming communal spaces and use of technology to support people’s daily routines.
Charlotte Lloyd, Commissioning and Operations Developments Director at Exemplar Health Care, said:
“Receiving this accreditation is recognition of the careful thought that has gone into creating an environment where people living with complex dementia can feel confident, comfortable and in control of their everyday lives.
“The physical environment is an important part of good dementia care. When design works alongside expert nurse-led care, it can help reduce avoidable confusion, support independence and enable people to continue doing the everyday things that matter to them.
“This award reflects the collaboration between our development, operational and clinical teams to create a home that genuinely supports better outcomes for the people we care for.”
Alongside its dementia-friendly design, Springfield Vale includes dedicated clinical consultation space, allowing sensitive conversations to take place away from people’s bedrooms, helping those spaces remain personal and homely. Accessible outdoor areas include sensory planting, walking routes and social spaces that encourage people to spend time outdoors, stay connected with others and enjoy meaningful everyday experiences.
As more people live with increasingly complex dementia, the accreditation highlights the role that thoughtfully designed environments can play alongside expert nurse-led care in supporting independence, reducing avoidable distress and helping people continue living meaningful lives.”
