When someone is faced with the decision to leave their home and move into a care home, this can be a daunting experience. They will need to get used to a new environment and let go of the comfort and familiarity of their own home. As a result, this can make it difficult for care home residents to settle, which might make them feel overwhelmed or upset. However, as a care home manager, you have the opportunity to make things easier by providing clear and accurate information from the start. Below you will find some of our best tips to make care home residents feel welcome and comfortable.
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Introduce Yourself And Your Staff
In the beginning, new care home residents might find it difficult to remember all the new faces that they meet. This can make things more confusing and stressful than they need to be. Therefore, it’s advisable to introduce yourself and your team and explain the different roles within the home. As a result, residents will know exactly who to turn to in case they need help, or they want to share their concerns. It might also be beneficial to share a bit more about your hobbies and interests so that residents feel like they have things in common with staff.
Make Everyday Activities Easier
If there are residents in your care home with mobility issues or weakness in the lower part of the body, it’s crucial to look at ways of simplifying everyday activities, such as taking a shower. For example, shower chairs can be a great solution, as they provide support in baths or wet rooms. NHC Group offers a wide range of shower chairs, which might be necessary for residents who experience balance problems or dizziness. These shower chairs may also be of great use for anyone who is at risk of falling or slipping. Thus, they can provide residents with the freedom and confidence to perform daily tasks like showering independently.
Respect Their Identity
It’s crucial to treat all residents equally and with respect. You should ensure that no one feels discriminated against, regardless of their gender, religion, race, or disability. This means that you and your team should be committed to respecting cultural diversity and individuality. Be sure to focus on getting to know residents as individuals. Ask them about their interests and hobbies and consider whether it is possible for them to continue taking part in these activities. As a result, you will be able to build a strong connection with residents and gain their trust.
Create Welcome Packs
Creating welcome packs can be a great way to provide residents and their families with key details about what they can expect. This is something that they can use while they are exploring their care home options and bring with them as they settle in. It’s essential to make welcome packs accessible to all residents so that everyone has a chance to read them and ask questions. The language you use should be clear and straightforward, as this will help you set the tone for a respectful relationship. Be sure to include both an online version and a printed copy.
Offer Healthcare Support
Maintaining residents’ health and wellbeing is essential to improving the quality of care. Thus, you should offer quality healthcare support at all times so that residents’ health-related questions are answered in full. It’s also important to provide residents with access to healthcare services, such as GP, dentists, pharmacists, dieticians, and more. You can also use GP enhanced services, which focus on improving the quality of care for residents. This means that GPs will be able to work closely with other professionals to review medications, diet requirements, and mental health concerns.
Get Families Involved
Some of the biggest concerns that residents experience include being away from home and not being able to see friends and family as often. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that families play a key role in residents’ care and wellbeing. For example, you might consider organising special events and activities that families can join. You might also want to allow them to join residents for meals from time to time or invite them to sit with everybody in the lounge. It might also be helpful to encourage families to set up residents’ rooms so that they are full of familiar possessions and decorations.
Encourage Social Interaction
Many people have active social lives prior to moving into care homes. As a result, they often want to continue participating in new activities and keeping busy. Think about the type of social activities offered by your care home and consider whether you can add new ideas to bring residents together and make sure they have fun. For example, you may want to plan outings or holidays. Also, you can provide a variety of entertainment options, such as film nights, quizzes, karaoke, and games. It might be a good idea to offer internet access, along with computers, laptops, and tablets that are ready to use.
Ensure Clear Communication
Effective communication is a key element in making sure that residents feel part of a community. It’s important to support people who need help with communication as a result of sensory loss or dementia. In addition, if residents have special language requests, fulfilling their wishes will make them feel understood and respected. Whenever residents ask you questions, it’s important to answer patiently and show them that you are aware of the enormous change they are going through. To improve communication, think about how you would want to be reassured if you were in their shoes.
Improve Day-To-Day Life
Don’t forget to inform residents of what they can expect from their day-to-day life and care. For instance, you may want to provide more information on mealtimes, wash facilities, laundry services, or bedroom furnishings. Let them know about the type of food you offer every day and ensure they understand how many choices they have at each meal. They should also be familiar with your policies on pets, visiting hours, and any restrictions you may have. Remember to emphasise how you plan to maintain their independence.
Consider Financial Arrangements
Another factor you shouldn’t overlook is the associated costs of moving into a care home. It’s important to produce clear and easy-to-understand price lists so that residents and their families can understand the financial arrangements they need to make. It’s important to avoid confusion and misunderstandings by including information about any changes that might not be part of a specific package. You should also provide residents with plenty of support when it comes to managing their finances and looking after their valuable possessions.
Maintain A Positive Attitude
Finally, maintaining a positive attitude while providing residents with information and support will make a huge difference in how they feel. It’s advisable to let them know that you understand their worries and focus on all the benefits of being in care. Reassure them that they will feel comfortable and at home in no time. Also, remember to give them as much time as they need to settle into their new surroundings. If you notice that some residents seem confused or sad at first, they might just be in the process of adjusting to their new lives. However, if these feelings persist after a few weeks, you may need to speak to a doctor for further guidance.
