The Implementation of a Model of Person-Centred Practice In Older ...

The implementation of a model of person-centred practice in older person settings
Across all three sites, programme facilitators at unit level worked with residents and
staff on the development of individualised activity plans. These plans were based on
activities/programmes the resident wanted to partake in. For some residents, trips to
the local pub, local cinema, the resident’s home place, local matches has now
become the norm. Other activities have been introduced within the units based on
the specific identified need of individual residents (Midlands Area Evaluation data)
A resident through her narrative shared a life long dream to travel to Lourdes but
because of her medical condition never thought this could be possible. In
collaboration with the family staff and members of the multidisciplinary team, this was
organised. She fulfilled her life long dream accompanied by members of her family
and staff members from the hospital (Midlands Area Evaluation data)
It was generally reflected by participants in the analysis of the data, that the care
environments are largely ‘monotonous’ and that there is a need to pay more attention
to activities that act as diversions from day-to-day worries that residents may have
and that lead to a greater sense of belonging and engagement
“It’s a shock being a geriatric when you were healthy up to this … it could be terminal
here, problem of passing the time. I get the books and pass the time with them. I
find it hard in the late evening. Spirits tend to go down in the evening. Playing cards
helps a bit with this” (Resident story)
One way of alleviating loneliness is through the maintaining of connections with the
older person’s ‘life-world’. Having social outlets is critical to this kind of engagement
and there is evidence from the participating sites action plans and reports of
achievements that a range of activities have been put in place to develop ways of
engaging with communities and social activities.This example from the
participating sites in the Midlands illustrates this work:
A similar theme that emerged from the narratives across the three areas, highlighted
how the residents were lonely and missed the connection with the outside
community. For some they found the day really long with little to do, in particular the
evenings for some were very lonely and boring. Several actions arose from this
across the sites. In St Vincent’s Hospital an action plan was developed to address
the establishment of a volunteer programme. This would involve the local community
and link in with the national volunteer project. A series of communication strategies
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