Big Care Home Conversation - How to do it booklet

Join the conversation atwww.myhomelife.org.uk

The Big Care Home Conversation, led by My Home Life, is offering you a unique opportunity to be part of a bold and exciting public awareness project. From mid May to mid June, care homes across the UK will be opening up a dialogue between residents, relatives, staff and the public about:

“What makes life good in care homes now, what could make them better – and how might we get there?”

With greater support from all of us, care homes can be thriving communities, offering a positive option to our frailest citizens.

Other Valuable BenefitsOpening a dialogue locally to inform quality improvement• Engaging the public in a better understanding of care homes• A creative and fun way to meet regulatory requirements on ‘user and carer involvement’ •

and much more…

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It’s a conversation 5

It’s a celebration 6

Getting started 9

Beginning the conversation 10

How to keep it going 13

Engaging with residents, relatives and staff 15

Some other things to consider 16

Engaging with the public 18

Briefing the press 21

What to do with the leaves 23

A broader movement 24

Answers to your questions 26

Summary 29

Signposts 30

“What makes life good in care homes now, what could make them better – and how might we get there?” We suggest that care homes create a “Conversation Tree” which allows residents, relatives, staff and the public to share their views about care homes with each other. You may choose to use a real tree outside, bring twigs inside or design and make your own tree.

People’s views can be shared by writing on the paper “leaves” in the pack that can be attached to the branches of your tree. And there are enough for you to share with outside organisations, too. Some people may prefer to share their views electronically on the Big Care Home Conversation interactive page on the My Home Life website. www.myhomelife.org.uk

From the information gathered, My Home Life will communicate what we, as a society, want from care homes and how we, collectively, can make it happen.

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ITís A CONVERSATION

Hello!

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Make it enjoyable!

Why not run an event as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration– or host a garden or tea party – with biscuits in the shape of leaves!

Let people know what you are doing by putting up bunting, pom-poms, banners – anything that says, “this is about celebrating the best of who we are and what we do”. You’ll find further ideas and further information on the website.

Use the trigger films, posters, banners and so on, to help people engage in the Conversation.

Take the Conversation out into the local community – like libraries, GP surgeries and schools – and help them get involved. This is a great opportunity to help the public understand what care homes are about and to share your good work with them.

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Plan ahead

• Who do you want to influence?• How can you tempt them to engage?• What will make it fun and enjoyable?• How could you involve your residents in what you are doing?

There are materials to help everyone on the website. It’s the place where you can also share your plans for the Big Care Home Conversation with others.

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Be in no doubt, a small group of thoughtful,

committed people could change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

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It’s all about creating a really good atmosphere in which to host the Conversation by...

• making sure that the environment is welcoming and not too busy, noisy or distracting • preparing what you will say to open up the Conversation, because this will give you confidence and get things going • creating rapport by using your listening skills, so that people feel safe and supported to express themselves honestly• asking ‘what’, ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions to open up the Conversation• acknowledging different perspectives, while helping people to focus on what they would like to see, hear and feel, rather than dwelling on negative aspects, or what is missing.

The trigger films can be a great way to spark the Conversation.

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• Actively listen and show positive interest• Be open to new ideas• Don’t be frightened of silence – give people time to think• Ask ‘why’ they say what they say, to encourage them to reflect more deeply• Encourage people to stay positive by asking questions like what is already working well? what needs to happen? what can we do together to move things forward?• Appreciate their efforts and thank them for sharing• Say how it has made you feel listening to them• Consider what you might do differently as a result of what they say• Encourage them to write their thoughts on the leaves and pin them on your Conversation Tree

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Engaging residents, relatives and staff in discussion can really help them feel a part of the care home community and could lead them to play a more proactive role in supporting you to deliver quality. Here are some questions to help open the Conversation

What makes a care home a real ‘home’ for people?• What does good care look like?• What would a perfect day look like in this care home?• What makes you proud or feel good about living, visiting or working here?• What makes you feel safe?• What helps you feel that you matter as a person and are part of things?• What gives you a sense of continuity, purpose or achievement?• What still needs to happen to make this good for you?• What could make this home feel more like a community?• What would success look like for this care home in 5 years time?• Care Home Conversation

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People may struggle to talk about what they want. They might fear causing offence or think that their views don’t matter.

It is important to help them feel safe, supported, listened to and acknowledged. Sometimes this is better done individually, in more informal ways, through activities or over lunch.

Perhaps they could be invited get involved in creating the tree, leaves or food for your Big Care Home Conversation events? Using music, photographs, or objects that affect people’s senses, like touch, taste and smell can trigger memories and ideas can help them to talk about what is important to them and what they want from the home.

Sharing something about yourself – your own likes and dislikes – may encourage them to talk about theirs.

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The public need to understand better the amazing work that you and your staff are doing and the wonderful older people that you are supporting.

The Big Care Home Conversation is a great way to connect more with the local community.

Some individuals might not wish to set foot in the care home, so why not go to them? Why not host a meeting in the community or write an article for the paper/ church newsletter?

Some organisations that you might wish to connect with

Libraries• Churches• Schools, colleges, arts groups• Mother & toddler groups• Scouts, Guides, Lions Clubs • Local AgeUK groups and lunch clubs• WI, Rotary, U3A• Your GP, hospital teams, social workers•

Remember: As care homes can feel like strange places to outsiders, ask them how they feel about care homes and explore their past experiences.

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My Home Life wants the world to know about the good practice that happens in care homes. We have created a local press release template (see website) that you are welcome to use. The media usually makes a bee-line to those doing interesting things; photos always go down well.

Sometimes, the press will ask difficult questions; the trick is not to answer. Tell them only what you want to share… A top tip is to remind them what you want to talk about. Just say… “I am not here to discuss that, I would rather tell you about …”

Please be clear about what are your own personal views, the views of your employer and also those of the My Home Life programme.

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After your conversations and events, please send the leaves from your tree back to My Home Life. We will analyse people’s comments from across the UK (without any reference to your home).

This information will help us create a book for the public on best practice in care homes. We will also take the leaves in a wheelbarrow and deliver them to Government with a message about working in better partnership with care homes.

Please send us your leaves by End of July at the latest to the address opposite, along with any stories or photos that you have permission to share.

Please remember, these leaves are like gold-dust! Not just for us, but also for you. By capturing the views expressed on the leaves, we can show the world what people ‘want’ from care homes and ‘what works’.

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We will need your leaves by End of July at the latest, Please send them to:

My Home LifeAge UKService Development DeptTavis House1-6 Tavistock SquareLondonWC1H 9NA

Or, email the content of your leaves to [email protected]

Through the Big Care Home Conversation, we want people to join the My Home Life movement, to help promote quality of life for those living, dying, visiting and working in care homes for older people.

It would be great if you could print the one-page flyer that invites people to ‘be part of the movement’ from the website and give it to people at your Conversation events.

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WE

SUPPORT

QUALITY

We are here to help you enjoy your engagement with the Big Care Home Conversation. Ask us questions via the My Home Life website and we will post the answers online to share with others.

What if?

Someone writes something inappropriate on a leaf?• Simply take it down and explain your reasons to the individual.

Someone gets angry or upset during the events?• Carehomesareanemotivetopic.Somepeoplefeelupsetaboutwhattheyreadinthepapers orwhathashappenedtoalovedone.Acknowledgetheseemotionsbutreturntofocusing onpotentialsolutions.Don’tpromiseanythingthatyoucan’tachieve.Ensurethatothersare aroundasasourceofsupport.

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1. Plan with residents, relatives and staff how you would like to engage with the Big Care Home Conversation2. Arrange fun events, ensuring that they are conducive to conversations3. Send out invites as soon as you can to get people to come to events from Mid-May to Mid-June4. Tell the local press – and us – about what you’re planning5. Encourage residents, relatives and staff to become involved in creating the tree and making decorations or their own leaves for it6. Encourage people to write on the leaves and hang them on the tree7. Send us your leaves, stories and photos by the end of July8. Reap the benefits of the Conversation by keeping the dialogue going!9. We will let you know what will be happening next

Good luck, enjoy and thanks very much for being a part of the Big Care Home Conversation!Care Home Conversation

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People may ask you questions that you don’t know the answer to. Don’t expect to know everything about our complex care system.

Here is a list of organisations that do:Age UK has a large library of advice leaflets at www.ageuk.org.uk/publications

Other sources of advice:Age UK Advice 0800 169 6565Cruse Bereavement Care 0844 477 9400Alzheimers Society helpline 0845 300 0336Admiral Nursing Direct Helpline (dementia support) 0845 257 9406

Other sources of support in engaging the wider community Local press contacts www.newspapersoc.org.ukYou might want to connect or signpost others to local community organisations on your local council website.

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My Home Life (www.myhomelife.org.uk) is supported by the Relatives and Residents Association, National Care Forum, English Community Care association, Registered Nursing Home Association, National Care Association, Care Forum Wales, Scottish Care, Independent Health and Care Providers in Northern Ireland

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My Home LifeAge UKService Development DepartmentTavis House1-6 Tavistock SquareLondonWC1H 9NA

[email protected] 7040 5776