This month Age Cymru is launching Supporting the wellbeing of older care home residents - A toolkit to bring together helpful resources to enable care homes, families, friends and residents to create the ideal environment for supporting resident wellbeing.

This toolkit, funded by the Welsh Government, has been informed by conversations with residents and professionals across care homes in Wales, as well as local authorities and health boards, drawing on a huge wealth of knowledge and experience.

The toolkit is designed to focus on the four main stages of life in a care home experienced by residents: moving successfully into a home; taking part in meaningful activities; finding a sense of purpose; and having a dignified end of life.

Mirroring the principles underpinning the Welsh Government’s Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, the toolkit strives for residents to feel safe and protected, able to learn new things, and have personal dignity throughout their time at the home.

Moving into a care home

When someone moves into a care home, it’s a time of significant change. To help new residents settle into a care home the toolkit suggests looking beyond just their personal and medical care and to try to get to know what matters to the resident by, for example, learning about their identity, occupation, and their family trees.

Feeling at home with meaningful activities

Access to meaningful, person-centred activities can help improve a resident’s sense of wellbeing. So, the toolkit suggests that care homes set up pen-pal schemes with local schools, host community coffee mornings, or encourage local community groups to showcase their activities in the home. It also suggests enabling family members to see what’s going on to encourage their involvement.

The research found that many care homes are already deploying a wide range of innovative activities. One care home regularly hosts silent discos where the residents get to choose the music they want to hear. Other homes were offering pet therapy or using special celebrations to serve up new foods and provide experiences of different cultures.

Developing a sense of purpose

Everyone’s wellbeing benefits from having their voice heard, and from having a sense of purpose. The toolkit provides examples of how residents can feel part of the home by finding jobs such as cooking in the home’s kitchens.

End of life care

The toolkit says providing a good ending for a resident can have a positive impact on the wellbeing of the resident’s friends and family, as well as the care home staff. It suggests relaxing visiting hours to allow family members to be there when they wish, offering to clear a resident’s room if it is distressing for the family to do so, and honouring the resident by placing their photograph in a prominent place and lighting a candle during their funeral.

Age Cymru’s Kelly Barr, who co-ordinated the toolkit, said: “Care homes have faced unimaginable pressures and challenges over the last few years, and despite this, we have heard incredible examples of how care homes continue to put residents at the centre of their care.

“Staff are recognising the impact that person-centred care can have on the wellbeing of their residents. They also want to integrate residents’ families and carers into their lives as well as those active in the local communities. Older residents should be able to take part in activities that matter to them, feel useful, learn new skills, and stay connected to people that matter to them.

“This toolkit brings together a wealth of resources as well as examples from care homes themselves to help equip staff, residents, and communities with the means to provide the best possible experiences for older care home residents.”

Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden said: “Care homes play an invaluable role in our communities, and I am pleased that we are supporting them in enhancing the care they provide.

“We know that person centred care can boost the wellbeing of older people, and this Toolkit will contribute towards a positive experience for residents and their families across Wales, throughout their time living in a care home.”

Care homes staff, friends and families can download a copy of the toolkit at: www.agecymru.wales/carehomes, call 029 2043 1555, or email [email protected]