Swimbridge House Nursing Home - Case Study

Balancing care requirements with spatial efficiency in a rural extension

Swimbridge House Nursing Home, located on the edge of the village of Swimbridge in North Devon, has expanded its facilities with a carefully considered extension designed to support additional care provision. Surrounded by open countryside, the home combines a peaceful setting with practical, care-led design.

Originally built in 1996 and refurbished in 2019, the two-storey, purpose-built facility now offers 52 single bedrooms. The latest extension introduces 15 new ensuite rooms, each designed to meet the evolving needs of residents requiring higher levels of care.

Designing for modern care environments

Each of the new bedrooms has been specified with integrated ensuite wet rooms, underfloor heating, and ceiling hoist systems—ensuring a safe, comfortable, and efficient environment for both residents and staff.

A critical design consideration within these spaces is the transition between bedroom and bathroom, particularly where ceiling hoists are required to operate seamlessly across both areas.

Resolving the hoist integration challenge

Ceiling hoists play a vital role in nursing homes, enabling the safe transfer of residents between beds, chairs, toilets, and bathing facilities. They reduce the risk of falls and injury while supporting staff by minimising the need for manual handling.

However, where hoists travel between bedroom and bathroom, the track must pass through the doorway. While this can be accommodated with a traditional hinged door, such solutions often introduce new challenges—particularly for wheelchair users. Door swings can restrict movement, create awkward manoeuvring conditions, and reduce overall usability of the space.

A dual-function door solution

To address this, 15 ECLISSE hoist-compatible pocket door systems were installed across the new extension.

This approach delivers two key advantages:

• Seamless hoist operation – allowing the ceiling track to pass uninterrupted between bedroom and bathroom
• Improved accessibility – removing the need for a door swing, enabling easier manoeuvrability for wheelchair users and care staff

By integrating the door within the wall cavity, the system maximises usable floor area in both spaces—an important factor in compact care environments where every millimetre counts.

Enhancing safety and flow

The top-hung design of the pocket door systems eliminates the need for a threshold, allowing flooring to run continuously between bedroom and ensuite. This reduces potential trip hazards and improves overall flow for residents, staff, and equipment.

Combined with the wider specification—including wet rooms, underfloor heating, and assistive technologies—the result is a cohesive design that supports both operational efficiency and resident wellbeing.

The installation of 15 hoist-compatible ECLISSE pocket door systems enables Swimbridge House Nursing Home to successfully integrate accessibility, safety, and spatial efficiency within its new extension.

The project demonstrates how considered door specification can play a pivotal role in delivering functional, future-ready care environments without compromising on comfort or design quality.

• Product: 15 hoist-compatible pocket door systems
• Location: Welcombe Lane, Swimbridge, North Devon
• Development: Extension providing 15 additional ensuite care rooms
• Facility: 52-bedroom nursing home (original build 1996, refurbished 2019)
• Completion: 2019