Last week, we explained why it’s important for residents to do housework style jobs and tasks where possible, as part of their individual wellbeing programmes.
One key benefit it provides is a sense of responsibility and duty, like a lot of our residents had before moving in with us. Whether that’s sorting out the laundry, dusting or hoovering and preparing daily meals, such mundane tasks to you and I are really important to our residents. By doing them, it provides a sense of normality and responsibility to them and makes them feel more settled and content in our care.
At Cramlington House, a few residents play an active role in preparing meals and snacks for tea time. They look forward to that time of the day, setting up the tables and preparing and making the sandwiches. They have a lovely little system in place where they use chalk boards and chalk to detail who’s made which sandwiches on each day. The sandwiches are then served to all residents by staff members.
At West Farm, some residents have been helping to arrange biscuits and scones for afternoon tea, laying them out nice and neatly on the tables in preparation for residents to enjoy, perhaps with a visiting relative or two as well.
The residents thrive by being involved in such tasks. They feel accomplished once their tasks have been completed and enjoy their tea time meal or afternoon snack even more after being involved in organising the process.
Residents’ wellbeing is our key focus so if this means they wish to play a small part in helping to run their home, whether that’s Cramlington House or West Farm, then we will do what we can to make their wish come true!