Kingdom Homes

Lifestyle Project

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

I am delighted to give you news of the Lifestyle Project underway for our residents managed by myself, Julie Smith.

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.