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

The implementation of a model of person-centred practice in older person settings
Work was focused on adding more variety into the daily menus as part of the meals
and mealtimes project that some staff were involved in. Staff also focused on their
approach to residents’ mealtimes and started to realise the value of this time as a
social occasion for residents and that to facilitate this they would have to review their
attitudes about mealtimes. It was generally acknowledged among staff that
mealtimes were hurried occasions where there was little emphasis on the social
needs of residents/guests and more emphasis on getting the task over with quickly
so that other important work could continue in the units.
The environment in all three sites was clinically focused and the balance was heavily
in favour of the staff needs rather than the residents needs. To support this work
staff in all, three sites involved residents in designing their living environment to make
it more personalised, cosy and user friendly and to redress the imbalance.
Image 2.8: hospital corridor
Image 2.8 shows a corridor in Cappahard Lodge where bedrooms are on the right of
the picture. This corridor used to be quite dark and every room looked the same both
outside and to a greater extent inside as well. Since engaging a local artist to paint
the corridor each bedroom looks different from the outside. The necessary clinical
additions such as hand wash dispensers, gloves and aprons faded into the
background and the whole corridor was transformed into a street theme. An
unanticipated outcome of the project to paint the walls in the unit was the
engagement that took place between the artist and some of the residents. Many of
the residents were fascinated with the work and spent a lot of time talking together
with the artist.
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