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Developing personal relationships in care homes: realising the contributions of staff, residents and family members
- Authors:
- WILSON Christine Brown, DAVIES Sue, NOLAN Mike
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 29(7), October 2009, pp.1041-1063.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Using a constructivist approach, the nature and types of relationships between residents, staff and family members were explored in three care homes in England using combined methods including participant observation, interviews and focus groups. The data collection and analysis occurred iteratively over 21 months and three types of relationships were identified: ‘pragmatic relationships’ that primarily focus on the instrumental aspects of care; ‘personal and responsive relationships’ that engage more fully with the particular needs of individual residents; and ‘reciprocal relationships’ that recognise the roles of residents, staff and family members in creating a sense of community within the home. This paper explores the contributions made by staff, residents and family members in the development of these relationships. The findings enhance our understanding of the role of inter-personal relationships in care home settings and of the factors that condition them. The implications for developing improved practice in care homes are also considered.
Transitions in care homes: towards relationship-centred care using the 'Senses Framework'
- Authors:
- NOLAN Mike, DAVIES Sue, BROWN Jayne
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 7(3), September 2006, pp.5-14.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
Long-term care in general, and care homes in particular, have never enjoyed high status as a place to live and work. This marginalised position is largely due to the continued failure to value the contribution that care homes make to supporting frail and vulnerable older people. In order to promote a more positive vision of what can be achieved in care homes, this paper argues for the adoption of a relationship-centred approach to care. The need for such a model is described, and how it might be applied using the 'Senses Framework' is considered. It is argued that adopting such a philosophy will provide a clearers sense of therapeutic direction for staff working in care homes, as well as more explicitly recognising the contribution that residents and relatives can make to creating an 'enriched environment' of care.