Holistic In-Home Care

Isn’t this a great idea for nursing homes in Australia to adapt.

A Residential Aged care Facility in the UK have implemented a PJ attire for their PM staff, a sleep hygiene strategy to encourage their residents to go to bed.

Quick article below.

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The quest for continual improvement in the aged care sector has encouraged a number of aged care providers to step outside of their comfort zone to try and improve the lives of their residents.

New models of care, innovative dementia-friendly design, pet-therapy, and cutting edge technology are just some of the amazing examples of just how far the aged care industry has come in recent times, but there is one family-owned nursing home in the U.K that is proving that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel in order to make a big difference.

The Old Vicarage Care Home in the U.K is a 19-bed aged care facility that utilises the empathy-based principles of the butterfly model of care to ensure the wellbeing of their beloved residents, but it is one of their most simple initiatives that has caught the attention of aged care staff around the world.

Owner of the Old Vicarage Care Home, Kamal Siddiqi, spoke with HelloCare about how a unique ‘no-uniform’ policy has had a positive effect on both their residents and their staff.

“The uniform requirements are that I give staff 30 (pounds) to buy a range of casual clothing which may not be abusive or have scary images on them. Night staff buy dressing gowns and pyjamas,” said Kamal.

“The idea came from staff attending training by David Sheard’s Dementia Care Matters model of care.”

Visual cues can play a big part in improving the life of a person living with dementia, which is why having night staff wearing pyjamas and dressing gowns can be a great subtle reminder to residents that it is time for bed.

“We found it was easier to encourage residents to go back to bed in the evening when staff were wearing dressing gowns and pyjamas,” said Kamal.

“The staff liked the idea and saw it as something different, the residents liked seeing different clothing during the day and seemed happy seeing nightwear at night, and families were happy with it – when we explained the reasons behind getting rid of uniforms.”

While the majority of aged care providers do everything they can to create a homely environment for residents, seeing people wearing uniforms throughout the day can certainly blur the lines between a home and a workplace.

Visually, uniforms represent a separation between aged care staff and residents which goes against the themes of togetherness and unity that aged care homes strive to achieve.

“Wearing casual clothing is part of a method of de-institutionalising the environment in which the residents live, said Kamal.

“It means that the care home doesn’t feel like an institution for both staff and residents, which helps to reduce the kind of behaviour that can occur in an institutional environment.”

“Staff have found residents keen to talk and comment on bright clothing when it is worn, which can be used to initiate conversations with residents living with dementia when they are upset or confused.”

If history has shown us anything, it is that sometimes it can be the smallest and most simple changes that can have the most significant impact, and when you take into account how important visual cues can be for someone living with dementia, it is understandable why extending this thinking to include the people that residents see the most could be so beneficial.

Successfully creating a particular environment hinges on the small details, and having those that care for residents dressed more like a family member than a worker definitely adds to a more homely atmosphere.

“I would say the resident’s favourite thing about the old vicarage is the range of activities we do and the fact it doesn’t feel like a care home,” said Kamal.

“The staff enjoy trying new ways of making the residents feel better and happier.”

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Holistic In-Home Care on LinkedIn: World Down Syndrome Day at Telethon Kids Holistic Members, Not only is it Harmony Day, 21st of March is WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY. So please join the panel of experts on the “World Down Syndrome…

Quick break down:

Both hoarding disorder and clutter involve messiness and accumulating several items. Their sources of clutter include acquired stuff such as hand-me-downs and gifts, items which were bought, things with sentimental value like baby clothes, and useful stuff which have not been used for a long time.

However, unlike hoarding disorder, clutter is not defined as a mental illness. Clutter becomes a hoarding disorder when the pile of disorganized objects causes clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning.

This is where we come in; our mental health nurses and carers help patients to slowly understand and reflect on this pattern, help with decluttering, removal and disposal.

Contact us via email or phone.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefits-psychosocial-recovery-coach-holistic-in-home-care

A psychosocial recovery coach is a professional who provides support and guidance to people living with mental illness, particularly those who are participating in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia.

The role of the coach is to help individuals with mental health issues to develop the skills they need to manage their symptoms and work towards their recovery goals.

Here are some ways that a psychosocial recovery coach can be beneficial for NDIS participants:

- Individualized Support: Psychosocial recovery coaches work closely with NDIS participants to understand their unique needs and goals, and develop a tailored support plan that addresses these needs. This individualized support can help participants to achieve their recovery goals more effectively.

- Improved Well-being: By providing practical and emotional support, a psychosocial recovery coach can help NDIS participants to improve their overall well-being. This might include developing strategies to manage symptoms, addressing issues with medication management, improving social connections, and supporting the development of healthy lifestyle habits.

- Increased Empowerment: NDIS participants may sometimes feel disempowered by their mental health challenges, and may struggle to advocate for themselves in their interactions with health professionals and other service providers. A psychosocial recovery coach can help participants to build confidence and self-advocacy skills, which can in turn lead to increased feelings of empowerment.

- Access to Resources: Psychosocial recovery coaches have knowledge and expertise in navigating the various support systems and resources available to NDIS participants, such as mental health services, employment support programs, and educational opportunities.
By working with a coach, participants can access these resources more easily and effectively.

- Accountability and Motivation: A psychosocial recovery coach can help participants to stay on track with their recovery goals by providing accountability and motivation. This might include regular check-ins, setting realistic goals, and celebrating successes along the way.

Overall, a psychosocial recovery coach can be a valuable source of support for NDIS participants with mental health challenges. By providing individualized support, promoting well-being and empowerment, facilitating access to resources, and offering accountability and motivation, coaches can help participants to work towards their recovery goals and achieve greater independence and quality of life.

If you would like more information or request the service, speak to one of our helpful mental health coach now.
Email us at [email protected]

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“While the last few years have demonstrated that our world can change very quickly, I remain certain of one thing. With you, by our side, we can look forward to a brighter, more inclusive future for all”.

Rob White
Chief Executive Officer
Cerebral Palsy Alliance

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