Feedback and advice

“We at Nightingales Army will continuously gather feedback and advice from those working within the sector. We will give this information back to you to benefit your care and the care received by a friend or relative.”

We want to support you with guidance and advice you may have not considered before moving to a care home or supported living. We want to encourage and engage in conversation about living in care. It is not taboo to require help and those who live in care should not feel isolated because they require support with their needs. Giving yourself and your love ones the tools you/they need to have an active and fulfilled daily life is very important to well-being and self worth. Here we will show the best answers provided to us from health care assistants who want to help you.

This advice is taken from a healthcare assistants' perspective - this is what we received.

Telling the staff as much as possible about the individual as you can. Be involved with the care planning. Documentation is taken for every aspect of an individual’s life. Knowing what an individual does and does not like is key to providing individual person cantered care that will benefit them, physically, mentally and spiritually.
Bring homely items. A chair, A unit, A radio. Recognisable items can provide a sense of settlement and orientation.
Make scrap books, memory boards and boxes. Digital photo frames are a great way of storing multiple photos that can be displayed in a space saving manner.
But do not provide too much, for example a box of various necklaces or multiple sets of slippers. It is confusing for both the service user and the individual. They can become a risk when the floor has too many shoes scattered around, or the wardrobe is full. Avoid items of considerable value, as care staff we would not want any accidents/damage to occur.
One single room can become overcrowded when you have personal items such as: a bed (possibly electric profile), TV unit, dressing table, chest drawers, bookshelf, side tables, lamps, photo frames, flowers - Now add, a hoist or stand aid, wheelchair, recliner, walking frame, lap table, crash mat, sensor beam and so on...
We ask that items are chosen with care to avoid overcrowding, risks and accidents. As an individuals needs change so does their environment. Often ask the team if there is anything that can be removed due to lack of use.
Regularly bringing toiletries and boxes of tissues on visits. Bottled products are recommended due to infection control and reduce risk to an individual. They can be stored in a cupboard and have a clear shelf life on the label. A hand soap that remains open to the damp air in a bathroom after use, can continue to breed bacteria. Hand soap can (and will) be eaten.
Provide clothes up to 2 sizes bigger than their size. Especially if they are bed/wheelchair bound. The larger size will make change of clothes easier, and reduce the risk of skin tears, especially on wrists, elbows, neck, ears and face: as small tight blouses and night gowns made of silk do not stretch, they are difficult to put on as mobility decreases (Click here to view an article on skin tears)
Label all items clearly. First and last name.
For this who are fully bed bound - Consider cutting night gowns down the back: We advise this because the night gown can be easily put on and off for personal care and continence aids, it looks considerate and decent, with being completely unnoticeable that it is cut to visitors.
Contraction of the muscles or muscular dystrophy. This can cause discomfort to every area, making daily tasks difficult, lifting objects to eat or drink and dressing and undressing. A difficult task for both the service user and the individual. We aim to provide this awareness to give understanding of the decrease in mobility, the effect it has on daily tasks and to discuss open ideas to make life more comfortable for the individual (Click here to view an article on muscular dystrophy)