It’s the little things that matters in a Surrey care home
Like all residential care homes the team at Redcot in Haslemere have been working hard to support the wellbeing, mental and physical health of its residents, their families and staff during this unprecedented lockdown period.
Friends of the Elderly who run Redcot decided to create a new campaign, ‘It’s the little things…’ and is working with its homes to share the little things they have done – and are continuing to do – that have had a positive and meaningful impact.
The residents at Redcot have had enjoyable, fun-filled days with lots of safe activities and ongoing communications taking place. Highlights include the regular sing-along sessions, outside afternoons on the terrace with a socially distanced entertainer, Bill Clayton, and gardening time in the beautiful grounds which are surrounded by scenic countryside.
Residents have also been enjoying arts and craft sessions, quizzes and a wide range of other activities, plus the staff have been helping residents to make calls and FaceTime chats to their families and loved ones.
“’It’s the little things…’ is a creative two-way communication designed to keep residents, care home teams, their families and friends in touch while they are missing each other,” says Rosemary Naylor, the Charity’s Care Home Director.
“The platform allows them to express their own ‘little things’ as a way of sharing their love and affection and the little things that they missing that mean so much to them, albeit looking at photos, reading stories together or simply sitting, chatting and sharing a cup of tea.”
And it has worked as one family member said to the team: “We wholeheartedly support and appreciate what you have all done to care for Mum.”
One resident added: "This is my home now and I feel as safe as I did at my family home, if not a bit safer. There's always enough staff, they never seem rush and always have time to talk to me."
One of the care home’s most popular residents, Grace, has been at Redcot since 2017 and has made lots of friends since her arrival. But the lockdown meant that she was unable to physically see and have visits with her daughter, Christine, which upset her. The mother and daughter kept in touch during the lockdown isolation period via regular FaceTime calls, but it’s not been the same as seeing each other in person.
“When the restrictions on non-essential visits came in I was very concerned that I would not be with Mum. I was delighted when the team introduced Facebook Portal calls early in the lockdown period,” notes Christine, Grace’s daughter.
“I have been able to spend so much time with my Mum and she thinks I am in her room rather than just virtually on a screen. As there has been no limit to my sessions, other than bookings by other resident's families, it has meant our separation enforced by these unprecedented times has been eased.
“It is the little things that make all the difference. One day I was reminiscing on a portal call with Mum and staff about how much Mum enjoyed knickerbocker glory ice creams - within a few minutes staff produced one.