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

The implementation of a model of person-centred practice in older person settings
espoused values became a visible reality. There is an ongoing process in the three
sites of questioning and challenging rituals and traditions that took precedence over
individual wishes. Instead of church times being seen in some cases as an
inconvenience to the work in the units, work was organised so that there were no
obstructions to guests/residents in attending church.
In Cappahard Lodge the environmental walk-about exercise identified many options
to create a more stimulating and homely environment. Residents were directly
involved in ideas about what constitutes a home following a focused conversations
exercise between staff and residents – ‘What makes a Home’. Although it was
accepted that a home means different things to different people the common themes
from these conversations were identified. In many of the conversations residents
talked about homeliness and feelings of safety and security. Food was important to
the feeling of homeliness with the environment having lesser importance. The
choices and flavours of food were seen as very important and many residents/guests
said that they had favourite meals that they would like to have available more often.
“I like a nice potato with my dinner, it is very important to me. The potatoes here are
not often nice and not the way I like them. I just like simple food”
In an effort to reduce the level of institutionalisation around food, staff in the
Community hospital of the Assumption developed a daily menu board (Image 2.7) for
residents who can read and are designing pictures of meals for residents with
cognitive impairment or who are unable to read.
Image 2.7: Daily menu board
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