Residents

Doing the things you enjoy

When living in your own home, you may have spent so much energy managing day-to-day life, that you were less able to do the activities you enjoy. When you move into a home, you’ll have staff to support you, so you can do more of the things you enjoy.

Being part of your new community

Before you moved into the care home, you may have enjoyed organising events, running a singing group, or editing a newsletter. Why not carry on doing those things in your new home? Small tasks matter too – like looking after the houseplants or getting some exercise by delivering the post to your fellow residents.

Making sure that staff get to know you

• Let staff know your likes and dislikes, interests, and who and what is important to you.
• Tell staff what everyday skills and activities you can and cannot do and what you might like to practise.
• Talk to staff about your culture and previous lifestyle.
• Discuss your spiritual needs and how these can best be met.
• Talk about the activities and roles that you want to keep up.
• Discuss how you like to have your routine.
• Discuss ways to keep mentally stimulated and physically active.

Care that meets your individual needs 

Everyone is individual, with their own individual needs. In a ‘person-centred’ home, the staff will aim to meet those needs and to treat you as an individual. That will include listening to you, respecting your choices and understanding exactly what you need. 

A care home is person-centred when: 

• You are involved in developing your care plan and are asked about decisions around your care
• Staff have understood your life  history 
• You feel a sense of belonging within the home
• Staff adapt their approach to meet your needs 
• Staff listen and address any concerns or anxieties. 

Staff are person-centred when they: 

• Treat you with dignity and respect 
• Listen to you and take time to hear your views and how you are. 
• Welcome your family and friends 
• Remember your likes and dislikes, interests, and who and what is important to you 
• Consider your culture and previous lifestyle 
• Remember your strengths and skills 
• Are aware of your spiritual needs and consider how these can best be met 
• Avoid making generalisations and assumptions about older people 
• Think about what it is like growing old and what it means for each person 
• Focus on the opportunities for being active 
• Encourage movement and physical activity. 

Being as independent as possible is key for your health and wellbeing. For example, if you’ve always enjoyed a daily walk, then it’s important that staff try to support you to carry on doing it.

Your care home is responsible for keeping you safe and staff have to consider the potential risk of an activity. For example, they may not encourage daily walks in case it leads to a fall. But just focusing on the physical risk, misses the emotional benefits you would get from walking every day.  

So it’s a balancing act between making sure you’re safe and giving you the opportunity to do as much as you can, and want to. Staff will also need to balance your wishes with the rights of other residents, the capacity of staff and the concerns of family and friends.

Staff will also consider: 

• The risks and benefits 
• The likelihood that risk might occur 
• The seriousness/severity of those risks 
• Actions to be taken to minimise the risks 
• Actions to be taken if the risks occur. 

Talking with staff is really important so they can support you with the activities you want to do. Talk to them about your strengths, routine, interests and wishes. And whenever possible, there should be an agreement between you, the staff, and your relatives. 
 

Why it’s important to keep active

It’s essential to keep active in your everyday life – for your emotional and physical wellbeing. And being active, doesn't necessarily mean exercise. It means actively participating in daily life. When we sit for most of the day, without moving or doing much, it can harm our physical and mental wellbeing.

What happens when someone stops being active?

• Muscles and bones weaken and joints stiffen.
• Breathing difficulties and chest infections are more likely.
• They may have trouble digesting food.
• Blood pressure increases and the heart weakens.
• They may be prone to urinary infections, which can lead to incontinence.
• Risk of pressure sores increases.
• Boredom, loneliness, irritability or anxiety.
• Less alert and difficulty concentrating.
• Loss of confidence and skills, which can lead to confusion and disorientation.
• Poor sleep patterns.

What happens when you keep active?

• Muscle strength, fitness and mobility are retained or improved.
• Appetite and digestion improves.
• Less likely to develop circulation problems.
• Immune system becomes more efficient.
• Tension is eased, and it becomes easier to relax.
• Balance, posture and coordination improve.
• Concentration and memory improve.
• Greater sense of wellbeing.
• Choice, control and dignity are gained.
• Social contact, self-expression and a sense of purpose and belonging are maintained or regained.

Here are some suggestions for making the most of living in the care home.

• Try to do as much for yourself as you can, so that people support you only when you really need help. That could be washing the top half of your body (but getting help with washing the lower half) or getting up and having a drink at the table rather than having one brought to you.  
• Think about your daily and weekly routine and talk to staff about how you would like to spend your time. Also talk about what help you might need.
• Set yourself goals to help keep fit and healthy. A goal might be to get up and move around every hour, or do a daily crossword or word search.
• Ask yourself ‘does my routine work for me?’ Have you got a balance between activities you need to do and activities that you want to do, such as self-care and leisure?
• Ask yourself if the balance of time alone and time spent with others is right for you.
• Talk to someone you trust if you feel bored, lonely, anxious or too sedentary, in pain or in discomfort. Staff are there to support you and can help draw up a personal plan to try to address any problems.
• Talk to someone if you are worried about your memory. There are many simple strategies that can help. 

The statements below may help you to think about how you are experiencing daily life. You might like to talk to a member of staff about what is working well for you and what you would like to change.

The home

• The dining room and communal rooms are clean and pleasant. The tables and seats are arranged so that I can chat with others.
• There is a mix of private, quiet and shared areas where different activities and social events take place.
• Rooms are well lit so that I can see.
• I can go outside.
• There are signs and cues to help me find my way around the home.
• Mealtimes are pleasant. I have a choice of where I sit, what I eat and drink, and my dietary needs are met.
• I can eat in my own room if I want to.

Staff

• Staff chat to me. They appear to take a genuine interest in my life.
• I trust the staff. They are friendly and I can approach them at any time.
• Staff support me to carry out day-to-day personal tasks, like watering my plants.
• Staff know what I like and dislike.
• Staff know how and when I like to receive help.
• My visitors feel welcomed when they come here.

Day-to-day routine

• I’ve been asked to give a life history.
• I was involved in writing my care plan and I have agreed to it and signed it.
• I can choose how to spend my day and what help I receive.
• I am supported to go into the community to take part in activities and events.
• I am free and supported to enjoy my hobbies and interests.
• Staff respect my ‘quiet’ time when I want to be alone.