The Kingsley Way Mandy Masters January 2012

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Help and advice when choosing a care home… “The Kingsley Way” Kingsley, making a difference

Transcript of The Kingsley Way Mandy Masters January 2012

Help and advice when choosing a care home…

“The Kingsley Way”

Kingsley, making a difference

ForewordThe Kingsley Way

Looking for a care home for your relative is a veryemotional time.

You may feel sad that the time has come for yourfamily member to need specialist care, and guilt as towhether you are doing the right thing. That’s aperfectly natural reaction, yet we can reassure you thathere at Kingsley Healthcare we provide exceptional careand a true ‘home from home’ for those in need ofnursing or dementia care.

We believe this booklet will help you to identify someof the things that you should consider when you'retrying to choose what is best for your family memberor friend, and also some of the areas that you shouldbe considering when evaluating a care home.

Within this booklet we have tried to highlight some ofthe key areas that we are often asked about. If afterreading this you have any queries we will be delightedto help in any way we can. You can contact us [email protected] or 01502 573054 andour team will be happy to hear from you.

With best wishes,

Kingsley Healthcare

02/03

A Kingsley care home

Everyone has a perception of what a care home isand how it feels to be in one. We believe that themyth of the care home is not reflective of theKingsley way, we believe the importance of aperson’s emotional well-being is just as importantas a safe and secure living environment.

If you visit a Kingsley care home you won’t find ourstaff wearing uniforms and badges, instead theypride themselves on being a part of the family within the home. You might be surprised to see arelaxed atmosphere with everyone talking freely and sharing stories.

Many people are at first confused when they seepeople who live with us getting involved in the dailytasks (such as dusting, polishing, laundry etc.) butwe believe that everyone should have theopportunity to be busy and engaged in somethingworthwhile – to belong. People seem busy with ameaningful and valued occupation. It is clear thateveryone is part of the home and enjoys beinginvolved with the support workers – clearlystrengthening the bond between them.

When you walk round a home it should feel like ahome, it may even be untidy at times. You willnotice interesting items, or as we call them, ‘stuff’ –boxes full of items known as rummage chests.Objects on shelves and hangers are also a source ofinterest. Sensory activities are also very beneficial;these allow people to touch, taste, smell, hear andsee. It may be easier for people with dementia torelate to these in comparison to thinking abilities.

The walls are likely to be brightly coloured and thepeople’s doors are likely to have vibrant nameplaques on them.

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04/05

There is minimum structure to the day and thestaff go with the flow wherever possibleresponding to peoples wishes as andwhen they arrive. This means stopping for teabreaks when people want one, not whenthey are told they want one.

We truly hope all our homes will allow you tobe a key part of your relatives care and feel partof the home. We know that together we canreally make people feel at home and help boosttheir mental and physical health. For us it isabout far more than caring for people in a safeand secure environment. It is about allowingindividuals to feel fulfilled, relaxed and positiveina place they are happy to call home.

A sign of true person centred care is when thepeople living in a home are happy, relaxed andengaged with others and the environment, notbored or asleep sitting in chairs in a circle. Aperson centred care home will be calm andstaff will respond positively and effectively tothe needs of the people who live there;comforting, helping and supporting.

That’s why the

Kingsley Way is all about

person centred care.

What is person centred care?

This term or phrase seems to mean different thingsto different people. Here at Kingsley Healthcare webelieve whole heartedly that person centred care isthe best way of providing care to the people wholive with us.

The explanation we would use is that person centredcare is a holistic approach to care that is focused oneach persons own unique qualities. Key points to this include:

• Looking to the individual first and then theirspecific care requirements – we never judgesomeone purely by their medical needs in thesame way in which we would never judge a bookby its cover.

• Taking time to understand the individuals ownpersonality and the story of their personal history.To us this means looking at the world from theperson’s point of view and appreciating how theymight be feeling.

• We aim to encourage social involvement andactivity that brings out the best feelings anindividual can have.

It’s best summed up by saying – ‘People living andworking together are good friends – that’s theKingsley difference’.

“People living and

working together

are good friends –

that’s the Kingsley

difference”.

The Kingsley Way

Examples of person centred care in practice include:

• Helping people to do as many things for themselves as possible

• Treating the individual as you would wish to be treated yourself

• Fostering an atmosphere built on freedom not control

• Allowing people to feel part of the community andcarry on with life long hobbies and interests

• Being a friend and where possible work together ratherthan seeing tasks being carried out

• Allowing choice and flexibility wherever you can –some routine is necessary but this need not be rigid

• Creating a home that allows people to feel safe andsecure both physically and emotionally.

Each day unfolds naturally, what a wonderful way to be at work!

06/07

Learning & developing together

Kingsley Healthcare believe in continuous trainingfor all our staff, not just training for training sake.

We are proud to have achieved Investor In Peoplestatus which shows we are an organisation that takesthe welfare and wellbeing of its staff team seriously. Itgoes without saying that our staff are all trained to ahigh level to make them more than capable at theirjob, but whilst qualifications and certificates are veryimportant, we believe in the all round development ofour team. With this in mind we have an established

training programme which focuses oncommunication and understanding skillswhich we believe are vital in any care role.

Supporting our own provision toimproving levels of care for people livingwith a dementia within KingsleyHealthcare homes, we regularlycommission and work with some of thecountry’s leading experts on dementia andcare for vulnerable people. We haveachieved some outstanding results andour staff will be happy to tell you all about these.

The Kingsley Way

This work is part of Kingsley’s on-going investment in our Dementia Care Strategy. The Strategy enhancesthe culture of care; delivers a true and meaningfulperson-centred approach; nurtures staff; andencourages the adaptation of the internal andexternal environments of the care homes.

Kingsley Healthcare’s management and staff at eachhome aim to work closely with partners to improvethe quality of life for everyone who lives with us.

08/09

“Working here is my first job

in care. I never thought I

would enjoy it as much as I

do. I enjoy making a

difference to peoples lives by

making them laugh and

having fun. I look back to

this time last year when I

had no job and no future –

now I have started training

to be involved in the

Butterfly project and want to

work hard to have a career

working with people with

dementia. I can’t think of

anything else I would want

to do, I love it!”

Food & meal timesThe Kingsley Way

Sample Menu – Tuesday

BreakfastChoice of fruit juices, cereals, porridge, eggs, full English

breakfast, toast and marmalade with tea or coffee

LunchToad in the hole with cabbage, mashed swede

and croquette potatoesor

Shepherds pie with seasonal vegetables and gravy

Lemon meringue pie or chocolate pudding with chocolate sauce

TeatimeChicken and mushroom soup and freshly made sandwiches

with a variety of fillings or pasta with tomato and basil

Raspberry mousse or mandarin cheesecake

Snacks and drinks are available throughout the day and night

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The saying that ‘Food is the way to yourheart’ certainly rings true in any of theKingsley Healthcare homes. What you eat isvery important to both your physical andmental well-being so whilst we believe inwholesome homemade food we always havea soft spot for a good jam roly poly orspotted dick.

All our homes have a kitchen that is staffed byKingsley Healthcare staff who have a passionfor food. We take training and cleanliness veryseriously and all the staff have achieved theirfood standard qualifications.

We serve three main meals a day interspersedwith snacks as and when people wish. Everyonealways has a choice when it comes to mealtimes and the menu itself changes on a regularbasis. When it does change it is done so withinput from everyone. We also cater forindividual food requirements.

Meal times always create a buzz around thehomes and the dining rooms are always a hiveof activity and we always encourage people tobe a part of this. But should you wish to haveyour meal in the comfort of your own roomthen this is no trouble.

Days out togetherThe Kingsley Way

Activities and days out are an important partof living in a Kingsley Healthcare home. Theseare varied and everyone is encouraged to takepart in day to day activities, whether that ishelping sort the laundry or laying a tableready for lunch.

Alongside the more routine activities within thehome, staff will endeavour to find peoplespassions and will put together activities to reflectthis. For everyone, this is very different andexamples include people who like to grow theirown vegetables, visits to the local shops andcafes, kneedlework and film clubs are allexamples of activities which people enjoy takingpart in as a group. All activities are of courseoptional and it is down to the individual tochoose whether they want to be involved.

Where relevant and appropriate, and on specialoccasions, we also have visiting entertainers. Thishas varied enormously from a local school choirsinging Christmas carols to magicians and evenan Elvis impersonator.

“Thank you for your kindness

and loving care given to our

mum. Life has been hard for

her but during her stay with

you, no longer is she lonely.

You all work so hard and

make her life a joy.”

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We also arrange outings to local museums or places ofinterest. Wherever it is possible we try to keep peopleengaged with the local community and what is goingon in the local area of any particular home.

We will also help people continue any religious orspiritual needs they may have and we will work closelywith the local amenities to make sure everyone hasaccess to all that is available.

DementiaThe Kingsley Way

The word dementia is used to describe agroup of symptoms, commonly associatedwith memory loss, but far more complex and different forms of dementia can varysignificantly.

Dementia symptoms can include:

• Memory loss• Personality changes• Confusion• Loss of ability to carry out routine tasks• Mood swings

Alzheimer’s disease is regarded as the mostcommon cause of dementia, but other typesinclude frontotemporal dementia, vasculardementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.Sometimes individuals can suffer from morethan one of these at once and this is referred toas ‘mixed dementia’.

Alzheimer’s disease affects

an estimated 35 million

people across the world

and approximately

820,000 within the UK.

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Typical symptoms of early Alzheimer’s include:

• Regularly forgetting recent events, namesand faces

• Misplacing things and losing the ability toretrace steps

• Confusion with time or place• Trouble understanding visual images and

spatial relationships• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home,

at work or at leisure• Disorientation, especially away from your

normal surroundings• Problems finding the right words• Mood or behaviour changes

Alzheimer's is not the only cause of memory loss.

Many people have trouble with memory — thisdoes NOT mean they have Alzheimer’s. Thereare many different causes of memory loss. If you or a relative is experiencing symptoms ofdementia, it is best to visit a doctor so the causecan be determined.

The Kingsley Way

Further advice

For more information on any of the matters inthis booklet:

Kingsley Healthcare Group3 Kirkley Park RoadLowestoft Suffolk, NR33 0LQ

Telephone: 01502 573054Email: [email protected]: www.kingsleyhealthcare.co.uk

Dementia Care Matters29 Bloomsbury PlaceBrightonEast Sussex, BN2 1DB

Telephone: 01273 242335Email: [email protected]: www.dementiacarematters.com

16/17

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Testimonials

“Person centred care has given

me faith in caring again, I think

this is what caring should have

always been about.”

“I love the fact

this is run as a

‘home’ calm and

peaceful. I cannot

praise the staff

enough for their

excellent care,

kindness and

attention.”

“The best place I have ever worked, it’s great to be able

to truly care and make a difference.”

18/19

“Thank you everyone at Brooke House

for making dad’s move to Brooke

House an easy one for him and for me,

he seems very happy here and enjoys

his food. Today he has told me all about

his roast beef dinner.”

“The staff go that extra mile to make

you feel different from the rest.”

Kingsley, making a difference

Kingsley Healthcare3 Kirkley Park Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0LQ

Tel: 01502 573054 | Fax: 01502 508817

[email protected]