In nursing homes, mental and physical well-being is central to almost everything we do. That’s why, here at Fulford, we’re introducing a new initiative to enhance the well-being of all residents, ensuring that they enjoy a positive quality of life under our care.
Here, we look at the importance of well-being and share details for our first “summer of well-being” inside the home.
Note: This is a two-part blog post. Part two will cover our activities outside the home designed to improve well-being.
The importance of tailored well-being in care homes
You might think that declining mental and physical health is simply part of getting older, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right support, encouragement, and services, many older people can continue to live active, engaged, and fulfilling lives.
The important part is to make sure that the support is tailored for the individual. Instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach to well-being, the needs of each person must be considered and met.
For example, during the COVID pandemic, we found that more and more older people were becoming susceptible to depression and loneliness (due to limited/no visiting).
Unfortunately, there’s no single cure for this issue. To tackle it, we required vigilance and creativity from our staff. We had to spot when our residents were disengaged, withdrawn, or anti-social, and talk to them to get to the root of the problem.
Then we had to gently encourage residents to take part in stimulating activities. By speaking to them, we could suggest different games, crafts, or exercises to help them improve their mood and, by extension, their health and well-being.
Care home activities should always be of genuine personal interest to individuals. Otherwise, they may feel like they’re being swept along by the interests of others. We don’t want anyone to feel burdened by the activities on offer; they need to enrich their lives. That’s why we work hard to provide a diverse range of social activities inside the home.
How are we improving well-being inside Fulford this summer (and beyond)?
Our summer of well-being has been designed to improve long-term mental and physical well-being support in the home. And it all starts with staff practice.
Using a “Household Model” and “Key Worker system,” we’ve divided residents into “family” groups with their allocated key worker overseeing their well-being and activities.
We believe familiarity is vital in a care setting, as it can help residents connect and socialise. This can put them at ease, especially if they’re new to the home (or if their family cannot visit regularly).
What’s more, staff are no longer being asked to wear uniforms, removing any perceived barrier and strengthening the sense of family unity. This has also been a talking point among residents, many of whom have shown an interest in the new clothes being worn each day.
In addition to this new set-up, we’ve introduced a dedicated well-being space with murals and pictures, with many of the residents’ ideas incorporated throughout.
And more activity is being encouraged within the home with a tailored approach to each individual. The residents all complete a well-being assessment, which focuses on the positives of their capabilities. This helps us match them to the most appropriate activities.
Finally, well-being isn’t a one-way street in care. We’re also taking steps to improve our staff’s mental and physical load by creating a new, spacious meeting room and introducing an outdoor well-being space.
Learn more about Fulford’s summer of well-being
We’re working hard to positively transform our residents’ well-being here at Fulford. By following our core values of kindness, empathy, dignity, integrity, respect, and trust, our activities and initiatives are already making a difference — and we expect that to continue throughout the summer and beyond.
If you’d like to learn more about Fulford’s well-being programme, please contact us on 01904 654 269. We’re ready to listen and happy to help.