MENTAL HEALTH Support for All
Brian Boxall-Hunt OBE, Chief Executive at maritime charity The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society and its nursing care home Belvedere House, explores the importance of care providers delivering the correct mental health support for both residents and staff.
to ensure it meets the needs of our residents. The training includes visits onboard vessels (when restrictions allow), so that staff can briefly experience what life would be like at sea, and talks from former seafarers to discuss what it was really like onboard. This helps our staff better understand the experiences of those living in our home and, since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to looking aſter people’s mental health, it’s important that we, as caregivers, are able to support every individual’s unique needs.
TACKLING LONELINESS
In the UK, almost 12 million people are aged 65 years and over– some 17.8% of the country – with 7.5 million more predicted in 50 years' time. Whilst the elderly community are naturally more at risk to many different illnesses, research suggests that over 65s are becoming increasingly vulnerable to mental health issues.
Age UK found that a quarter of older people in the UK live with mental health conditions, with the most common being depression, affecting 22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 or over, followed by anxiety. The study also found 40% of older people who are living in care homes have depression and those going through a bereavement are up to four times more likely to experience the illness, which is why it is vital care homes provide complete emotional support to those in their care.
TAILORED CARE
As a specialist maritime care home, we provide nursing, dementia, residential and respite care to former seafarers and their dependents, many of whom, aſter a life at sea, can be leſt feeling isolated or with psychological or physical issues when they come ashore later in life. With this in mind, alongside the tailored care plans we produce for all our residents with input from their family and themselves, we also look at ways we can incorporate maritime elements to our care. This includes displaying maritime memorabilia around our home and running a programme of activities, before the pandemic, around the shared interests of our residents. Many of our residents say the sense of community they feel from living with those with similar backgrounds helps tackle issues of isolation.
Alongside the clinical and mental health training we deliver for our workforce, we have also developed a specialist Maritime Acquaint Training programme to enable staff to understand the extreme conditions of life at sea and help tailor our care
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Concerning studies have shown that loneliness and poor social connections are as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Sometimes, residents who enter a care home can feel lonely and isolated, and can struggle with a loss of independence, the change in their environment, or the loss of a loved one. During the pandemic, loneliness has affected us all, but particularly vulnerable care home residents. Without regular visits from friends and family due to government guidelines, our activities team instead developed a creative programme of events and internal activities to keep residents entertained, including regular video calls with family members, outdoor concerts, games nights, therapy animals to help with anxiety and more; all of which helped to raise spirits and add a sense of normality to a very abnormal situation that COVID-19 presented to us.
More oſten than not, many mental health issues – or early signs of them at least – can be simply supported by having someone to talk to. Ensuring that there is a strong support system in place for those in your care is key and always having someone on hand to chat to can make all the difference. Staff that care for the same residents will be able to spot the warning signs of mental health first and then will be able to refer additional, specialist care to help with treatment.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
There have been vast amounts of research over the years showing the benefits that being outdoors has on your mental health, with access to green spaces and activities in the fresh air helping to relieve stress, anxiety and improve your general mood and wellbeing. At the Society, we are lucky enough to sit within 14 acres of Surrey greenbelt countryside and our residents are encouraged to enjoy the beautiful scenery with walks (or, for those in wheelchairs, an assisted walk with a carer) in the grounds to take in the local wildlife and what nature can offer.
During lockdown, this outdoor space has been a real luxury and a calming sanctuary for our residents. If you don’t have
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