Care quality
Looked at in this way, products that enable shared experiences or enhance understanding of the other person and their life can be part of creating a good relational environment.
These would include technology-based games such as Tovertafel or Omi, which can be enjoyed by all generations and are particularly good for connecting people in care who might be suffering from cognitive decline. However, it should be borne in mind that sharing books of puzzles and challenges adapted for dementia, such as the Bright Old Sparksmonthly publications, can also have this effect. Various technologies can be introduced into the environment to help reduce anxiety and distress. For example, robopets have been attracting publicity, and can help build connections. One manager said to Dr. Morley that “The [older] person has been using it to show others, to engage, to say what she and her cat have been doing. It’s aided communication … with others”. However, another manager
questioned whether technology distracts care residents from relating to people like a pacifier for a child, or whether it helps them to relate because they are calmer. Again, there is also a matter of expense. Some robotic animals are very
sophisticated and expensive, while something like a small toy dog may fulfil nearly the same function. Introducing music into the environment can also reduce stress, and products such as Memory Tracks go further, and support daily routines by song-task association.
Conclusion
There are a variety of other issues that affect the inter-relationship between physical environment and the enabling of mutual support, acceptance and love. Fortunately, many resources available to help re-imagine physical space that improves wellbeing.
This article touches upon some that the author has observed and for which there is evidence of effect. Perhaps the take-away is that vision, compassion and an enterprising approach are at least as important as investment alone, and together they can change lives.
Reference 1 Kartupelis, J., Making Relational Care Work for Older People: Exploring innovation and practice in everyday life, 2021, Routledge. The book is available to The Care Home Environment readers at a discounted price from
www.routledge.com using the code ‘FLR40’ at checkout.
Jenny Kartupelis TCHE
Jenny Kartupelis started her career in public relations. In 1998, while still running her own PR business, she was invited by faith leaders to help establish the East of England Faiths Council regional multi-faith body and, for her work as its director, she was awarded the MBE for services to interfaith relations. Since 2015, Jenny has given much of her time to research into, and reporting on care of older people, being given access to visit and interview in a wide variety of charitable, private and local authority care settings. Her work has resulted in two books about the theory and practice of relational care.
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