How care homes can improve life for their residents ?
Going to a care home means that people have to adapt to a new environment that they were never used to. For many residents, this means a loss of a sense of belongingness and self. In such a scenario, the role of caregivers come into play. It is the caregiver’s task to make the residents feel at home. The sense of being at home is more than a pleasant physical environment. It also involves engaging residents in activities that give them a sense of control and identity can improve their life at care homes. Here are some practical ideas for caregivers on how to get started with:
Keep social isolation at bay: Care homes can be a place which where residents are taken care of and are encouraged to take part in fun activities. As a caregiver you can arrange for scheduled and stimulating activities like singing, reciting poems, bingo nights, indoor gardening, etc. All these activities will not just lift their mood, but also contribute positively towards their overall wellbeing. Moreover, group activities will foster and create social interactions. This will help combat loneliness by making them feel part of a community.
Personal attention: One thing that can improve the quality of life, reduce irritation and improve interactions with staff is personal attention. To make the residents feel confident and safe, it is important that they receive extra personal attention. When residents receive extra attention, they view the moving into a care home in a positive light. Personal attention also alleviates the apprehension that comes with the transition.
Shared decision making: If a doctor has recommended a change in certain activities, a caregiver must involve the resident concerned in decision-making all on aspects of life in care homes. This will improve communication and the resident and the caregiver will work in tandem like partners. Getting them involved in maintaining the garden or doing other tasks that they love doing can help feel involved and develop a sense of belonging.
Encouraging physical activities: One of the best ways to improve the quality of life of the residents is to encourage them to stay active. Physical activities not only help strengthen muscles and joints but also aid in keeping the mind active. Before introducing any change in physical regimen, please ensure that you are well-acquainted with individual needs of the residents. For those who cannot walk or lack participate standing up, caregivers can help them with sitting exercise that involves ankle rotation, arm stretches, etc.
Care home managers and owners - Switch to eMAR to improve care staff productivity
From assisting with the basic needs of the residents to creating a care plan and administering medicines, caregivers have too much on their plate. Medicine administration involves a lot of manual tasks if done by paper-based MAR sheets. Like several care homes in the UK, you too can make administration of medication efficient by switching to eMAR (electronic MAR). eMAR eliminates paperwork, reduces administrative errors and increases efficiency. Also, the staff will not need much training to learn how eMAR works as it has the same template as that of paper-based medication administration record template. To book a demo of an electronic medication administration record software, visit https://www.electronicmar.co.uk/book-a-demo/
