Care Home Construction and Refurbishment: What Operators and Developers Should Plan For

A care home has to work as a home, a workplace and a regulated healthcare setting at the same time. That combination makes the design and build more demanding than most residential or commercial work, and it explains why operators and developers value contractors who have worked in the sector. Berati Construction's experience includes the Beaumont Rise NHS care home project, and the themes below recur on every care scheme.

Design for Residents and Staff

Good care design supports independence and dignity. Wide, uncluttered corridors help mobility aids. Clear wayfinding, good natural light and carefully chosen contrast in floors, walls and doors help residents living with dementia move around confidently. Rooms need to be adaptable and offer privacy, while shared spaces encourage social contact without creating noise and congestion. Staff need efficient routes, visibility between areas and well-placed stores and workstations.

Fire Safety and Compliance

Care homes house people who may need assistance to evacuate, so fire strategy is central to the design. It typically involves robust compartmentation, detection and alarm systems, protected escape routes, suitable evacuation strategies and, where required, sprinklers. Care homes that reach 18 metres in height or seven storeys are also within the higher-risk building regime under the Building Safety Act, which adds further approval stages. Operators also need the building to meet the expectations of the Care Quality Commission when registering, so involve them early.

Infection Control and Services

• Finishes that are smooth, seamless and easy to clean, and detailing that avoids dust traps.

• Hand-washing facilities positioned where staff and residents need them.

• Reliable heating, ventilation and hot-water systems with appropriate safeguards against legionella.

• Nurse call, door access and communication systems integrated into the design from the start.

• Resilient power and services, so essential systems keep running.

Refurbishing an Occupied Home

Where a home stays open during refurbishment, phasing is the project. Work is divided into zones that can be handed back in turn, with dust, noise, vibration and infection control managed through a written plan. Programme certainty matters, because every week a bedroom is out of use is lost income for the operator. A contractor that plans access, deliveries and working hours around residents and care routines keeps disruption to a minimum.

For related reading, see our guides to the Building Safety Act and Gateway 2 and new build housing schemes. Browse our projects or get in touch to discuss a care scheme.