The Importance of Self-Care
Working in the health profession we tend to forget the importance of self-care. A great focus is placed on residents to ensure all their needs are met and they receive the best care possible. At Amberley, it was felt that a focus was needed on staff to ensure that they receive the same level of care they gracefully deliver to our residents. Amberley Care Home felt that the resident's involvement would be pivotal and also gives them the opportunity to get to know the staff more.
At Amberley, we are taking part in our very own Self-Care Week. Each day having its own focus within the care home. In this news article, we break down each day:
Self-Care Day 1: Staying Connected
The focus is to offer purpose to our staff and residents where they are in a position to take 15 minutes to engage in conversations that are not based solely around care. This gives our residents the opportunity to get to know their caregivers as individuals who have a social circle around them outside of work.
Self–Care Day 2: Better Sleep Challenge
One in seven (14%) of the population survives dangerously on low levels of sleep at night, under five hours. Nearly three-quarters (71%) of the UK adult population do not have the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep at night. Poor sleep is closely linked with conditions such as cardiac problems, dementia, and diabetes.
We will work closely with some of our residents to sit down with staff and ask them about their sleeping patterns and provide advice to staff on the importance of sleeping at least seven to nine hours a day.
Self–Care Day 3: A day of laughter
This day aims to reduce stress levels and aid social connections which will in turn ease physical pain and boost health. We are encouraging residents to come up with ideas to make the staff laugh, making their day feel more enjoyable and less stressful.
Self-Care Day 4: Get Into Nature
On this day, the focus will be on getting in touch with nature and spending time with the residents having some outdoor activities. Some residents have volunteered to take a walk in our lovely garden with staff to remind them how important nature is and to stay connected with family and friends. The residents will be able to provide lifestyle choices and impart their knowledge to the younger generation on how to face challenges with grace.
Self–Care Day 5: Get hydrated (Fluid Challenge)
Our staff are known to encourage residents to keep hydrated by offering regular drinks. Our residents will be challenging staff on how much water, tea, coffee or cordial the staff have had to drink. Some of our lovely residents have been asked to complete a fluid intake chart on our staff to ensure they are taking enough fluid. This is exciting and we are looking forward to this particular week as roles will be reversed and staff will be challenged by the residents.
We at Amberley Care Home consider ourselves as a family unit. Family always ensure that great care is given, the residents are excited as they will be in a position to hold staff to account and offer much-needed advice which will benefit our staff in later life. Our residents have a wealth of experience ranging from Staff Management, Law enforcement, Education and more, so there is plenty of wisdom to be shared about. Want to learn more? Contact our expert team.
