Kingdom Homes

Lifestyle Programme

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

Kingdom Homes Lifestyle Programme March 2011.

We want to look at each of our residents on an individual basis and expand upon the information that we already have on their backgrounds. We want to know what hobbies they had, what jobs they did and what their lifestyles were like before they came to live in our care homes. With this knowledge we will assess how we can provide an individually tailored lifestyle within our care home setting.  The focus needs to be taken away from what people can no longer do but on what they can do and what they enjoy. Skills are quickly lost if not used - this includes social skills and confidence as well as physical abilities. Regaining lost abilities can be particularly difficult for frail older people.

Can we support this person to continue an activity they enjoyed? We may look for support from the local community to help us achieve this. For example, a person may have been a keen football supporter – can we find someone who would accompany this person to a local football match? Kingdom Homes already has a Volunteers Policy in place and will readily accept offers of help in line with this policy.

It’s a huge task to undertake for around 300 residents and I will be involved in this Project for the whole of 2011, such is the importance that Kingdom Homes places on rolling this out for the betterment of our residents’ current lifestyles.

Each resident will have a Life Story Book in which all of their details will be recorded. They, and their families, will be closely involved in the content of their book. The scrapbooks are intended to be as colourful and eye catching as possible with photographs and pictures helping to tell the story.  I have completed scrap books with two residents who were keen to be a part of the initial pilot.

Being involved has enabled Frank, one of the residents who agreed to be part of the pilot, to stir up some long forgotten memories and stories from his past. We’ve had some great laughs at the tales that have come out as we completed the books and there has been great discussion around the dinner table and in the sitting rooms with other residents who are looking forward to their turn to record their lifestyles.

The website will be updated regularly over the next few months with the progress of the project.

Kingdom Homes Lifestyle Programme - Update March 2012

Kingdom Homes Lifestyle Programme has now been running for over 12 months. By talking to residents individually and by completing their Lifestory Books we have a clear picture of the social activities that our residents enjoy and how to meet their individual needs. As a result we have now established over 30 Clubs providing sensory, physical, social or spiritual activities as well as the normal day to day activities which take place in all of our care homes. With everything from classical music to ten pin bowling there is something for everyone.

The more popular clubs run in every Kingdom Homes care home. The Cookery Club for example proved very popular with residents so each home has its own weekly Cookery Club but where there are only a few people who share a common interest, the club is held in one home and one of our minibuses brings residents to club meetings from our other homes. Bringing people together in this way also encourages new friendships to be made.

Centralised Team

To ensure that all Kingdom Homes care homes offer the same standard of activities the Activities Co-ordinators are now part of a centralised team and are known as Lifestyle Co-ordinators, reporting directly to me. They now facilitate Clubs and activities in any of our homes, focusing on delivering the activities which best suit their individual abilities and expertise.

Training

Some of the Lifestyle Team is attending a series of training courses specialising in the delivery of activities to people with different needs. Puppet therapy for example has been proven to help those suffering from dementia related illnesses or communication problems. With no words spoken, the person will mimic the actions of the puppet and by interacting with props can be helpful to encourage eating and drinking or simply combing their own hair.

Communication

A Lifestyle Board is now a feature in each Kingdom Homes care home displaying the Clubs Programme, external outings and other Lifestyle related information.

A series of presentations is currently being delivered in each of our homes to inform residents and their families of the improvement in choice and variety that the Lifestyle Programme brings.

A Clubs booklet is now part of our admissions documentation. The Lifestyle Team has also taken over producing the Newsletters for all homes so that residents and their families are kept up to date with all the latest news and pictures of life at Kingdom Homes.

I firmly believe that Kingdom Homes is on the right track with the Lifestyle Programme, offering much more variety and choice to those in our care. We have many more exciting developments in the pipeline and I can’t wait to put these in action. Thank you for taking the time to read this update.

Julie Smith

Lifestyle Director