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Together but alone: isolated older people in care homes
- Author:
- DOWNEY Judy
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing and Residential Care, 13(1), January 2011, pp.36-38.
- Publisher:
- MA Healthcare Ltd.
- Place of publication:
- London
The author, from the Relatives and Residents Association, discusses the issue of care home residents who become socially isolated and what can be done to ease their isolation. It draws on work carried out with care homes by the Association. Improvements in the way care is delivered and the use of volunteers and befriending schemes are briefly mentioned.
Befriending in care homes: the results of a pilot study
- Author:
- DOWNEY Judy
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing and Residential Care, 13(8), August 2011, pp.395-397.
- Publisher:
- MA Healthcare Ltd.
- Place of publication:
- London
This article reports on a pilot study undertaken by the Relatives & Residents Association which investigated how volunteer befriending could be implemented in care homes. Following some initial organisational problems, four health and social care students were recruited to participate in the pilot. The volunteer befrienders made weekly visits to nine residents for eight weeks. Positive feedback from residents and staff suggested that a volunteer befriending scheme has great potential to enhance the wellbeing of residents.
Old age and new speak
- Author:
- DOWNEY Judy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Care Services Management, 5(1), January 2011, pp.23-28.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Despite all the recent rhetoric about personalisation, the reality of life for a great many people living in care homes has not been sufficiently safeguarded and standards of residential care still vary greatly. This article argues that rhetoric around personalisation appears to show a limited perception of the realities and stresses of care home life and the relative powerlessness of many care home managers. They are too often constrained by lack of training, restricted budgets, limited flexibility, reliance on agency staff, minimal opportunities for staff training, and management who do not necessarily share the aspirations of personalisation. In addition, the Treasury and Audit Commission seem relatively relaxed about those who fail to come up to the mark for decent standards of care. Lack of action and proper resources continue to hinder improvements. The use of jargon associated with personalisation is discussed, and it is argued that this could further obscure the problems of overall budgets, quality of care, staffing, and the need for better regulation and accountability.