Dementia care


providing residents with an environment that is conducive to being happy, healthy and having a good quality of life. When designing and building a home, consider the needs of the people who will be living there during the design process, rather than just the building as a whole. That will enable the right care to be


delivered to the right people at the right time, as good design can impact people’s lives in a number of positive ways. Care homes that feel like a home and


offer a level of service beyond traditional care are much more likely to deliver outstanding and innovative care. A range of facilities can also create a feeling of homeliness, which gives residents different destinations and activities to keep them busy and occupied. That can include cinemas, hairdressers, and coffee shops. Care home operators can provide


innovative care for residents by challenging the care they are currently delivering, and why it is being delivered to ensure that residents’ wellbeing is protected and enhanced.


The impact of Covid Coronavirus and the changes that have followed have meant it has been virtually impossible to innovate care as care providers have been overwhelmed by the number of fatalities, and residents requiring hospitalisation and additional care through testing and vaccinations. Care home operators and staff have


highlighted the effectiveness of working together during the pandemic with cultures of learning being developed, achieving a greater understanding of the role of the care home environment, and how to deliver innovative care. Although challenges have been


faced during the pandemic, we have also seen many leaps forward that have revolutionised how care is delivered. Let us take advantage of the progression we have made during the pandemic, and


ensure it does not slow to enable more care home operators to deliver care, which is both innovative and outstanding.


Innovation in practice Different care methods are crucial to establish an innovative care strategy. At Vida Healthcare, we use alternative methods of communication to give residents opportunities to express themselves, and provide emotional support. Puppet therapy and doll therapy


offers residents a sense of purpose and responsibility, and immediately generates focus and a meaningful response. Through our initiatives we have seen residents engage in more social interaction, have boosted self-esteem, and the bonds between residents and their carers strengthened. We have also found dog therapy to be


highly effective, with the unconditional love offered by dogs giving residents the opportunity to behave naturally without experiencing judgement. Interacting with animals can also lower blood pressure, and reduce stress hormones, which both make for a more relaxed and calm environment within a home.


Looking ahead Innovating dementia care can only happen effectively if care providers work together with their staff, residents, and relatives to understand and identify established practices that are effective, and what still needs to be learned. Innovation is about self-awareness,


training and education, and challenging ourselves to try and empathise with care home residents. If we understand how


20 Bernadette Mossman


Bernadette Mossman is healthcare director at Vida Healthcare. Bernadette is an experienced healthcare professional who started her career as a community psychiatric nurse in Glasgow. She boasts more than 25 years of experience in both public and private sector roles. Prior to joining Vida Healthcare in October 2011, she worked as a regional manager for a large care provider where she was responsible for managing ten homes comprising 450 personnel and 300 beds.


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • August 2021


they feel, it is easier to deliver the level of care and compassion they require. The more understanding we have


about innovative dementia care practices, the better equipped we’ll be to accelerate the development, evaluation, translation, implementation and scaling up of comprehensive care, services and support for people living with dementia, their families and caregivers.


TCHE


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