Living in a Community - Part 1
Member Contribution Notes from Shareshop Held on 21 August 2024
The following key points were made by contributors during the Shareshop focused on:
- Social Activities
- Use the interests and talents of residents and staff.
- Get staff actively involved; ask them to bring ideas.
- Use music in various settings: group, individual, background.
- No standardisation or fixed activities; be flexible across different care communities.
- Promote intergenerational interactions.
- Use conversation starter cards to get to know each other. Each card has a question, ranging from fun to more serious, which helps people share and connect. Add pictures of actual residents on the back of the cards to provide even more stimulus for conversation.
- Resident involvement is essential. Volunteers visit new residents, tell them about activities, and over time, invite and accompany the new resident to an activity to introduce them to it.
- Resident chairperson per activity taking place in the care community, with an end-of-year function for all the residents who participated throughout the year.
- Weekly community activity (e.g., movie) The 'buddy' invites and takes new resident along.
- Residents' interests are noted and added to a CRM database to keep track and utilise.
- Introduce new activities that expose people to new ideas. For example, drama classes led to performances, allowing people to achieve lifelong dreams of acting.
- Meals
- Changing the menu can be challenging. Idea: Round the world - choose a country per month, but not the actual dish (only revealed on the day). Residents wonder what will be served; staff dress accordingly.
- Direct involvement of the catering manager is essential.
- The connection between the person preparing the meal and the resident makes a difference to both their wellbeing.
- Food presentation can make or break the experience.
- Growing own vegetables and herbs, e.g., small pots of parsley on windowsills, can contribute to the meal of the day.
- Different expectations across different types of care communities.
- Invite residents to see what it takes to prepare the meals; keep it real, and hopefully, there will be fewer complaints.
Outstanding Comment: Femada (TAFTA) - "We cannot make everyone happy every day. Have real conversations with residents about expectations. When a person moves in, the following is covered 'You do not give up your life and pass along the responsibility for happiness to me because I cannot do that. I cannot make you happy. I can provide you with the physical environment and support, but the decision whether you are going to be happy is your own. The decision whether you will be happy with this meal is your own, but there are certain standards that we will meet.'"
Aspects to be covered in Following Sessions:
- Participation/Involvement/Ownership/Citizenship
- Emotional well-being
- Routines
- Laundry
- Cleaning
- Health and Safety
- Care
- Medication
- Therapies
- Family/Loved ones
- Community engagement
- Entertainment
TAFTA Bullying and Harassment Policy shared with meeting.
