Building a home that feels like home

Moving into residential care is a significant life change, and a sense of home comes from more than a building, ACH Group chief executive officer Linda Feldt told The Ageing Agenda.

“It comes from familiar surroundings, meaningful relationships and the freedom to make everyday choices and maintain personal routines,” she said.

Ms Feldt said they take time to get to know each person and understand what makes life feel familiar and meaningful to them, and they tailor care to each resident’s needs, preferences, goals, routines and life story.

Families and friends also remain an important part of residents’ lives and residents are supported to maintain their independence, social connections and hobbies that matter to them, she said.

The physical environment and the way care is delivered are changing to give residents greater choice, independence and connection, Ms Feldt said.

“We are moving away from institutional environments and routines towards smaller, familiar households that support continuity of care, meaningful relationships and a genuine sense of home,” she said.

“This builds on the quality care and trusted relationships that have always been at the heart of ACH Group’s residential care. As we implement the model across our homes, we are drawing on our experience at Healthia in Elizabeth South, our first purpose-built small home living home. Our teams have embraced new ways of working and are building even stronger relationships with residents, making care more personal and responsive.”

Ensuring a homelike environment was maintained during the transition into the small home living model was also prioritised, and residents chose the personal belongings they wanted around them to help make the temporary rooms feel familiar and reassuring.

“Residents told us how important it was to return to their original rooms, so we developed individual relocation plans to support each person and make both moves as smooth and comfortable as possible,” Ms Feldt told TAA.

“It has been particularly pleasing to hear residents and families recognise how well they were kept involved throughout the transformation.

“Ultimately, a building helps create the setting, but relationships, familiarity and a sense of belonging are what make it home.”

The provider wants everyone living in an ACH Group home to enjoy the benefits of small home living, and it will change existing homes and also develop new purpose-built homes, she said.

“What matters is that people feel comfortable in familiar surroundings, have a say in their day and get to know the people who care for them. As we invest in our homes, we want to keep that personal connection and care at the centre of every decision,” Ms Feldt said.

So far, the response from residents, families and people who have toured the home has been overwhelmingly positive, Ms Feldt said. It has been “wonderful to hear what the changes mean to the people who live here and their families,” she added.

“Residents and families have also told us they appreciated being kept informed and supported throughout the refurbishment. For our teams, this has meant learning a different way of working, supported by extensive training. They have embraced the changes and the opportunity to build closer relationships with residents and make care more personal and responsive,” she said.

“That matters just as much as the refurbishment itself. It’s the people, the care and the familiar surroundings together that make these eight households feel like home.”

Routine and connection boost comfort

For Queensland-based aged care provider Carinity, building routine and encouraging connection is key.

The not-for-profit provider has found success in undertaking comprehensive assessments of each resident, including what social programs they may be likely to engage in and how to support participation, and any risks involved.

Carinity aged care executive manager Heidi Wiebe told TAA that this strategy allows them to listen to and collaborate with the resident and their family representatives. The provider also completes resident feedback surveys.

“A homelike environment is important to ensure residents feel respected and safe, that their dignity is upheld, and to increase quality of life. By offering activities of meaning for residents, we promote social connections to ensure they feel a sense of belonging,” Ms Wiebe told TAA.

Carinity also encourages residents and their loved ones to take tours of the Carinity homes and allow prospective new residents and their families to make decisions regarding how they set up their room. 

“Our welcome program for new residents includes presenting them with a gift basket and information pack and doing an orientation of their new environment on day one of their stay,” Ms Wiebe said.

Residents are welcomed by the local aged care leadership team too, which includes the residential manager, clinical care team and chef. Following the comprehensive assessment, the Carinity team then works with each resident to develop a personalised lifestyle plan that reflects their interests, preferences, life experiences and goals.

Carinity will then make sure to actively encourage residents to participate and will adapt activities where needed or organise transport or assistance. The team will also regularly review residents’ interests to ensure opportunities remain meaningful and relevant.

Ms Wiebe told TAA they have invested in building communities where residents and their families feel welcome.

“Our resident survey feedback tells us that our residents feel safe, that they are heard, valued, cared for by a skilled workforce, and feel connected to their families and community,” she said.

“Carinity has invested in a workforce that supports residents to participate in meaningful activities mirroring homelike experiences, including gardening, cooking and interacting with pets.”

Sometimes helping a resident feel at home can be as simple as the maintenance of residents’ routines, and the conversations with regular care workers that stem from these routines.

Carinity Fairfield Grange personal care worker Preet Pannu – who cares for people living with dementia – said the team at Carinity understands it is relationships that grow around the routines that make the real impact.

“We try our best to reduce feelings of isolation. We chat, provide companionship and encourage residents to participate in activities, exercise or walks around the garden,” Ms Pannu said.

But this sense of connection extends to staff feeling welcome too, which can lead to improved continuity of care.

“Over time, residents gradually became more confident with me and began initiating conversations. One day, when I arrived at the start of my shift, one particular resident was already awake,” Ms Pannu said.

“As soon as she saw me, she came over, gave me a hug, and told me how happy she was to see me. That moment meant a great deal to me; knowing that I had built such a meaningful connection with the resident was incredibly rewarding.”