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

The implementation of a model of person-centred practice in older person settings
• Development of more individualised meaningful activities
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.
In St Brigid’s Hospital, a trip to Lourdes for one of the residents was facilitated. This
resident through her narrative shared a lifelong 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 lifelong dream accompanied by members of her family
and staff members from the hospital.
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 were identified to invite local people of all ages to
get involved in volunteering. This included a visit to the hospital from former
Taoiseach Albert Reynolds to promote the programme. A volunteer programme is
now established with all the required protocols in place from Garda vetting to
education and training programmes for volunteers.
Music evenings for the residents are now facilitated by members of the active
retirement group in St Vincent’s. A kitchen has been developed for the diversional
therapy department in St Vincent’s this is now used by for cookery sessions where
the residents are actively involved in cooking/baking, using their own recipes. This
time provides a great opportunity to socialise and reminiscence about times past and
has become very popular.
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