Improving Quality of Life for Older People in Long-Stay Care ...

actively providing residents with opportunities for self-expressionproviding private space and private rooms for residentsfostering positive staff attitudes towards ageing and older people,e.g. encouraging residents to assist with tasks in the facility as appropriatepreserving residents’ self-respect and self-esteem through enhanced staffengagement.The Council recommends that these and other age friendly and independenceenhancingpractices form part of any future initiatives aimed at enhancingquality of life in long-stay care facilities.Connectedness, Social Relationships and NetworksAs endorsed in Care for Older People (NESF, 2005), the research found that qualityof life in long-stay care is enhanced if:16residents are encouraged and facilitated to retain previous interestsresidents are enabled to maintain contact links to the community,their social networks and familyresidents have meaningful relationships with those around themcontinuity of staff is developed and maintained.In this regard, the Council recommends that:meaningful and respectful engagement with residents is encouragedresidents are treated with kindness, respect and considerationgood relationships between residents and family and community areencouraged wherever residents wish itresident/resident relationships are encouraged and facilitated, but respectfor individual preferences always guides this facilitationfamily and community contributions, where appropriate, are recognisedas an important part of the residents’ carethe facility is located within the community in which the resident formerlyresided and continuing contacts are encouraged and fostered.Improving Quality of Life for Older People in Long-Stay Care Settings in Ireland