The COVID-19 Recovery and Rehabilitation project was kindly funded by The Rayne Foundation to help care homes share with each other what they are doing to help individuals living, dying, visiting and working in care homes for older people to move on from COVID-19. This story relates to Creating Community, which is an important part of Developing best practice together.

 If you have a story to share, please email us on mhlcharity@outlook.com.

As one care home shared…

Community has always been an important aspect of our home. Before the lockdown, we would take our residents out into the community to engage in various activities, for example dancing and other social activities. This was completely stopped, and the new way of life in our home presented such difficulties for us in creating community or engaging with others. But with the necessity to socialise came the invention of our online community.

 

Previously, when we engaged in community activities, or general activities outside the home, for instance attending an event, we often went with some residents, not all. It was not feasible to all go out at the same time. Now, we have formed an online community which consists of several care homes! What we do is go online, and each of the homes take turns to host the event. People from the different care homes sing songs, hymns, read to the group, and do various other things. And what’s great is that almost all the residents in each of the homes can participate. Most people stay together to participate, but others who aren’t able to leave their rooms can still participate via the individual mobile devices which we’ve invested in. It’s so refreshing to be a part of an online community.

 

Another online community which has blossomed is one which connects residents with their families. Individual residents connect with their loved ones, but they also connect with other residents and their families too. So, it’s a big group of people on the call at the same time. Usually someone will show their family dog, or other pet, and have a chat and others can enjoy sharing the moment. It’s like a nice drop-in session with no pressure to perform. Our residents and families love it, and it’s one of the positive and bright things which has come out of such difficult times.

What new things are you now doing to help residents, relatives and staff connect more together?