Aberdeen Care Home Leading the Way With Innovative Approach to Resident Care

At Woodlands Care Home, we are always looking for new ways to enhance the health, wellbeing and quality of life of our residents. By combining research, technology and continuous staff development, we have introduced a number of innovative initiatives that are making a measurable difference to daily life within our home.

One of our most significant projects has been the introduction of our "De-Caff by Default" approach. Developed in line with current academic research and the NHS Happy Bladder Campaign, this initiative was designed to support residents' health and wellbeing through simple but meaningful changes.

We began with a six-month improvement cycle, initially trialling the approach with a small group of residents before gradually introducing it more widely across the home. Drinks were transitioned to caffeine-free alternatives over a three-month period, while residents always retained the choice to enjoy caffeinated drinks if they wished.

Since introducing the initiative, we have seen a range of positive outcomes, including fewer falls, a reduction in urinary tract infections, improved sleep quality and lower levels of stress-related behaviours. We have also seen a reduction in the use of certain medications, including some prescribed for high blood pressure.

The success of the project has attracted interest from healthcare professionals across Aberdeen, with elements of the approach now being adopted in other services.

Alongside this work, we have embraced innovative technology to further enhance the care we provide. We use the AI-based PainChek system, which helps identify pain through facial expression analysis in just a few seconds. This is particularly valuable for residents who may struggle to communicate discomfort, including those living with dementia.

While PainChek does not replace professional judgement, it provides our team with additional information that helps support decision-making. It has enabled us to better distinguish between distress and unrecognised pain, helping reduce the use of antipsychotic and sedative medications while supporting palliative and end-of-life care. The technology also helps identify pain patterns, supports medication reviews and provides useful information for healthcare professionals.

Resident safety remains a key priority, which is why we have also introduced regular Herbert Protocol drills. The Herbert Protocol is widely used across care settings to support vulnerable people if they go missing, but we have gone a step further by regularly practising the procedure.

These drills involve coordinated searches of the home and surrounding area within a set timeframe, ensuring our team remains fully prepared in the event of a real incident. During a recent inspection, the Care Inspectorate recognised this approach as an example of best practice and requested permission to share it more widely.

Our commitment to innovation is supported by a stable and experienced team. We have not used agency staff for more than three years, allowing us to build strong relationships with residents and maintain consistently high standards of care.

These efforts have also been recognised through our most recent Care Inspectorate inspection, where we achieved top grades of 6.

Home Manager Lesley Stewart said:

"At Woodlands Care Home, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of life for our residents through thoughtful, evidence-based care. Whether that's introducing our De-Caff by Default initiative, embracing innovative technology like PainChek, or strengthening safety procedures through regular Herbert Protocol drills, every decision we make is centred around resident wellbeing, dignity and comfort.

What makes me especially proud is the commitment and compassion shown by our team every day. Having a stable, experienced workforce allows us to build meaningful relationships with residents and continually develop new ways of delivering outstanding care. It's incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact these initiatives are having, not only within our own home, but across the wider care sector as well."

At Woodlands Care Home, we remain committed to delivering person-centred care that helps residents live happy, fulfilling and supported lives while continuing to explore new ways of improving care for the future.