Improving residential aged care residents’ quality of life requires creating environments that foster positive ageing. Thankfully at Clayton Church Homes (CCH), positive ageing is our specialty, as we prioritise and cultivate environments that promote active living, inclusivity, support, and wellbeing. Because we believe positive ageing is a right and an important factor that assists residents’ to live their best lives, we wish to share some key underpinnings for fostering positive ageing environments in South Australian aged care homes.
Staff Training
One of the most important aspects in creating positive ageing environments is staff training. It is essential to ensure all aged care workers understand the fundamentals and principles of positive ageing, so they can apply this knowledge in their day-to-day work to positively impact the residents and clients in their care. Programmes for staff training could include the following:
- Empathy and Communication: Educating staff on how to interact with residents in an effective and compassionate manner.
- Putting a strong emphasis on meeting social, emotional, and physical needs – known as holistic care.
- Encouraging staff to utilise positive reinforcement to increase residents’ motivation and sense of self-worth.
Activities that Foster Community
For the physical, mental and social wellbeing of residents, aged care homes should foster feelings of community, social connection, and belonging. Some great examples of community-building activities include:
- Group Activities: Planning frequent group activities including physical activity classes, music lessons, and art projects.
- Social Events: Organising gatherings that promote conversation and camaraderie, such as movie evenings, themed meals, and holiday/awareness day celebrations.
- Volunteer Programmes: Encouraging locals to take part in volunteer programmes might help them feel connected and have a sense of purpose.
Strategies for Engaging Residents
One way to greatly improve the quality of life of residents is to involve them in meaningful activities and decision-making processes. Strategies that work well include:
- Customised Activity Schedules: Creating schedules of activities based on the preferences and skills of each resident.
- Creating resident councils will allow people to have a say in how their home is run, including what they like about the home and areas for improvement.
- Lifetime Learning: Providing workshops and educational programmes to promote lifetime learning and cognitive function.
Building a Supportive Environment
Positive ageing is also really helped by a supportive physical environment. A few things to think about are:
- Making sure that every resident can easily access and feel comfortable in the home, which is known as ‘accessible design’.
- Creating healing environments: Including gardens, walking trails, and peaceful, calm environments for introspection and rest.
- Safety and Comfort: Putting safety and comfort first with high-quality lighting, furniture, and safety features.
In summary
In residential care homes, fostering an enriching positive ageing environment requires a multipronged strategy that incorporates resident engagement tactics, community-building exercises, and staff training.
At CCH, we’re dedicated to delivering environments that prioritise positive ageing initiatives, by ensuring that everyone in our care can prosper and lead fulfilling lives.