Evangeline

I am not a ‘ professional aromatherapist’ but the benefits of these amazing smells alone to a resident with dementia can be immediately beneficial through just smell alone. I myself can feel instantly less anxious or stressed if I have certain ‘smells’ around me. We are about to introduce massage therapy to the home I am managing now as I feel strongly that especially someone with mid to late stage dementia benefits so much from the two senses of touch and smell. We will obviously ensure a risk assessment is completed for each resident prior to carrying out any massage and check for any ‘dislike to a smell’ ‘irritation’ or other contraindications. We must always ensure that we are following instructions to ensure correct amounts are used etc. Thank you again for another valuable source of information on your site Solange and also Thankyou to Angela for all your information as an aromatherapist. Keep well keep safe

Thank you so much for this :)
At our care home we have 'Getting to know you' session.
Turn to the person on your right, shake their hand, introduce yourself an talk a little about yourself. This has been so lovely t see residents engaging more with each other, especially after a little encouragement.
I will definitely be trying some of your ideas :)
Thank you
Evangeline Girling
Registered Manager
Ralphland Care Home

How amazing is this :)
Thank you so much for this , it is absolutely brilliant!
Golden Carers is definitely 'THE BEST' site to go to for ideas for our loved ones and our residents.
During these unprecedented times it is so difficult to always keep our residents occupied but MUSIC brings them alive and this is just perfect.

Keep Well Keep Safe Everyone :)

I absolutely love this idea and can be easily tailored to suit the seasons and have used a very similar board before. There are so many amazing, wonderful ideas on this site . Thank you so much

I absolutely love the idea of a ‘twilight session’ and the timing is exactly correct 2pm to 6pm. I firmly believe that our residents should have additional ‘ activities’ provided at this time , be in one space . I firmly believe it assists with reducing the agitation of sundowning and the high risk of falls . It is so difficult to get owners of care homes to realise the true value of having a ‘full activities program’ and the ways it enhances our residents lives, carers are able to concentrate on other needs and it leads to a happier home where carers are not so stressed, our residents can pick up negativity and this massively impacts on them, owners need to ‘listen’ to their Managers more as we ‘know’ our residents and staff the best, we ‘know’ the importance of building those special relationships in order for a home to thrive.

Hallo Hayley

Thank you for your incredibly insightful , wonderful account relating to creating a calm environment for our amazing residents. I have taken over a care home that needs TLC and we have made great progress in ensuring that new ideas relating to the importance of sensory rooms being provided to those that are sadly unable to leave them. Staff are encouraged to take time with our residents to get to know them holistically and ensure that their day is calm yet meaningful. Lounges have a quiet area where some residents like to draw or paint with soft music on, an area to watch television and socialise, corridors with seated areas to create a Place to sit in peace or have a chat . The layout is such in our home that there are different types of areas for our residents to suit their mood , personalities. Our pat rabbit ‘Harriet’ has been an amazingly, calming, reassuring source of comfort especially to our residents that are end of life and they just love Harriet to lay with them whilst they stroke her. It is so vitally important that we use all of the senses to ensure our residents’-live’ and not just ‘exist’ and this is what person centred and relationship centred care is about. There is so much learning to be done as our residents change and new residents come and reside with us , we have to ensure that we are able to adapt, predict even sometimes what is needed to help them feel calm and safe. We have such a privileged role in caring for these people and we all have a duty of care to ensure our residents feel valued and respected for the amazing lives they have led and to ensure they feel safe and secure in their new home. I miss being Activities CoOrdinator full time and Ralphland already has an incredible Activity CoOrdinator but as a Manager I try to ensure that my knowledge is passed on and this site has proven an invaluable aid to our care home. Thank you so much for your brilliant ideas. Evangeline