Top Tips To Run A Care Home Facility And Ensure Quality Care

16/12/2022

RUNNING a care home comes with a variety of challenges, as you will need to take residents’ needs into consideration to ensure quality care. Therefore, it’s important to create a proper plan, which will help you improve residents’ health and wellbeing. Although what matters most to one care home might be different to others, there are still a few key things that every care home manager should think about. Without these factors, it can be difficult to create a comfortable and safe environment for residents. Within this guide, you will learn more about managing a care home effectively and ensuring both residents and staff are happy.

Help Residents Adjust To Their New Surroundings

For most residents and their families, one of the most important things is to ensure a smooth transition to their new surroundings. This means that you will need to take an active part in supporting residents with whatever they need to feel at ease. If possible, care home staff could visit a resident’s home prior to them moving to help them transition more easily. Another crucial thing to consider is ensuring residents can maintain their sense of identity. For example, it can be a good idea to encourage them to get involved in any hobbies they enjoy, such as painting, sewing, or reading.

Provide Personalised Care

It’s important to provide personalised care to residents by looking at their individual needs. For instance, there are various things you can do to ensure that residents with limited mobility feel supported. You can look into profile beds, which are adjustable beds, designed to enhance comfort and help care home staff move residents more easily. At NHC Group, you can learn more about the essential features you need to look out for when choosing the right profile beds. Moreover, you will find out how to use these beds to the fullest and support residents with mobility problems.

Ask Residents For Feedback

Whenever you are implementing any changes, it’s advisable to ask residents for their opinions. This will help you maintain high standards in all areas of your care home facility, such as the choice of food or the types of activities on offer. Receiving good feedback consistently will be the best indicator that you are providing a high-quality service. Moreover, residents will feel involved in the decision-making process, which will improve their quality of life. Staff should be familiar with each resident’s health needs and personal preferences. As a result, residents will have as much control and freedom as possible. 

Ensure Equipment Is Well-Maintained

You will also need to ensure that the care home facility and equipment are well-maintained. This will help residents feel confident that their safety is a top priority. Staff should be provided with full training on how to use the equipment. It’s important to answer any questions they may have to prevent errors from occurring. Make sure you comply with all rules and regulations regarding the proper upkeep of moving and handling equipment, such as wheelchairs, hoists, walking aids, support rails, and others. Consider learning more about LOLER so that you can maximise health and safety in your care home.

Provide Healthy Menu Options

Taking steps to improve residents’ health and wellbeing is essential, so you should pay special attention to the food and drinks on offer. It’s crucial to provide residents with nutritious choices and make mealtimes a positive experience for all. Residents will likely have different dietary needs, so you should ensure that everyone feels satisfied. For example, it might be beneficial to consult a registered dietician to check that your menu provides residents with all the vitamins and minerals they need. Also, make an effort to add new dishes whenever possible to keep things fresh and exciting.

Encourage Staff To Learn More About Residents

To create a homely environment, you will also need to encourage staff members to get to know residents better. For example, they might want to ask further questions about residents’ likes and dislikes, as well as additional needs they may have. This way, residents will feel confident sharing their thoughts and expressing their needs, no matter how complex they may seem to them. It can also be helpful to make sure that each resident has access to advocates who can speak on their behalf if necessary.

Support Your Staff

Last but not least, remember that providing quality care wouldn’t be possible without your staff. This is why you should ensure that they feel motivated and satisfied when taking care of residents. It’s important to provide them with enough time off to get the rest that they need. Also, you should encourage them to keep learning and developing their skills. Staff should have access to additional training opportunities to improve their communication skills or learn more about the safe management of medicines. As a result, they will feel more confident in their roles, which will have a positive impact on residents’ wellbeing.

The latest stories