Observations by our Healthcare Director, Karen Austin
I have a very privileged role as Healthcare Director at Target, being able to spend time in our care homes, and to be treated as part the care home family on each visit is a unique experience.
My role is to ensure the homes we invest in are all well looked after, by our chosen tenant operators, with our principle focus on monitoring and environment, care, and reviewing the home's operational performance.
This is to ensure that our elderly residents receive excellent care in a purpose-built facility that assists residents to maintain their independence and receive care with dignity in the privacy of their own room.
A special care home welcome
On arriving at the home, I am already observing the outside presentation of the home; is the signage visible, is parking readily available, are the gardens/ground tidy and well maintained, does the home look presentable from the outside. The details make such a difference to any prospective new client who might be visiting a care home for the first time.
So, what happens inside the care home – extraordinary things take place daily.
The reception areas are a hub of activity; we have reception staff meeting and greeting new and old visitors as well as answering calls and questions, showing people around and generally being the person that can help with any queries with a smile.
"I enjoy my role, for many reasons, I like to catch up with the people who live here and help them in any way I can"
Admin
Care home management and care team
The Home Manager and Deputy Manager are the kingpins; keeping everyone smiling, safe and happy, including, residents, staff, visitors, and senior management. The Home Manager is responsible for all operational aspects of the home, from overseeing the care delivery, health, and safety of all who live, work, or enter the home, upkeep of the building, meeting regulatory requirements and ensuring the commercial viability of the home.
Ensuring the residents receive person centred care is one of the main objectives of a care home. Each home has a varying skill mix of care and nursing staff depending on the specific needs of the residents. The skills and experience of this dedicated team is what makes a care home into a real home for life for many elderly people. The care team are essential responsible for assisting the residents with washing and dressing, supporting with meals, encouraging physical exercise, staying connected with family and friends, looking after the residents' personal belongings whilst ensuring that the residents continue to the live a full life and meet their goals. Laughing, chatting, singing, dancing, and reminiscing provide the care team with a unique insight into the resident's life all of which assist with delivery of true person-centred care. Care planning, risk assessing, medications, and health assessments are constantly under review. Whilst delivering care the staff are constantly monitoring and assessing the needs of all of the residents. A comprehensive log is completed daily which is then shared with the residents, key family members and other health care professionals who may be involved in the residents’ care. Keeping residents well both physically and emotionally is down to the hard work and commitment of the care team.
"I enjoy coming to work as the team makes all the difference."
"I really enjoy working here as it’s a nice place to work and very rewarding."
"One of the bits I like most about the home is that it is a purpose-built facility."
Deputy Manager & Senior carer quotes
The activity teams
To enhance residents' well-being most care homes, employ activity staff. Activities coordinators play a crucial role in care homes, ensuring that residents have a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. Activity coordinators take care of planning and running social activities within and out with the care home. These activities can include:
Arts and crafts - Baking and cooking - Book clubs - Singing and other musical activities - Dancing
Gentle exercise (such as chair-based exercise and yoga) - Gardening and flower arranging - Bingo
Hair/beauty treatments - Meditation and yoga - Wellbeing classes - Visits from local schoolchildren
Pub quizzes - Trips to places of interest - Celebrations for special occasions (such as birthdays)
Activity coordinators engage with residents to understand their interests and preferences. They tailor activities to individual needs, incorporating hobbies and past interests. If outings are possible, they organise trips out
"I asked my daughter to help me find somewhere nice to live rather than be on my own; as soon as I walked into this home and saw the excellent facilities and met the staff I wanted to stay"
Resident quote
Catering team
The Home Manager has several heads of departments who assist with keeping all the balls in the air. A head chef ensures that the catering team provide well balanced meals throughout the day. The key is to keep in regular contact with the residents to ensure that their preferences and choices are included in the daily menu selections. Many residents have specific dietary requirements such as food intolerances, allergies, and modified textures. The chef requires to be highly skilled to ensure the residents eat and live well.
Mealtimes are such a key part of the resident's day; a well-run kitchen, delivering delightful home cooked food is a sign of a committed catering team.
"I enjoy working in a friendly atmosphere and helping the people who live here to enjoy their meals.”
“If I get kitchen working correctly the people who live here engage and enjoy their time here; I want them to feel important."
Head Chef quotes
Ancillary staff team
The housekeeping and laundry team work away in the background, whilst they might not be the most visible of the team members, they are essential to the smooth running of the home.
Maintaining the cleanliness and upkeep of the home is no small task. The team of dedicated workers take on some of the most challenging of tasks to ensure the home remains clean and that resident’s personal belongings and laundry are well-kept.
You will also find the ancillary staff team spending time with the residents, catching up with chat whilst they clean the resident’s rooms or whilst returning the clean laundry.
"I love being here the staff are kind and helpful, they always make sure I have every need looked after, I feel special. I think the domestics do a marvellous job considering all they have to do and remembering everything. It’s not a job I would like to do."
Resident quotes
Maintenance Person
The maintenance of the building is paramount, we invest in purpose build care homes and expect our providers to maintain them to an excellent standard. Each home employs at least one permanent maintenance person who is responsible for conducting various health and safety checks such as fire, water safety, equipment as well as day to day repairs. Whilst maintenance is the key aspect of their role you will find the maintenance person also assisting with the upkeep of the gardens or decorating a resident's room. You will also find the maintenance person doing odd jobs with the residents like painting the garden furniture and spring planting for our senior garden enthusiasts.
"I like to help the people who live here."
"I am made to feel part of the team and I never feel like the man that fixes things and then goes away."
"I feel I am making a difference."
Maintenance Person quotes
What makes a “good” care home more than anything else is a team that is fully committed to caring for their residents. When you walk into a care home, and you get the "buzz" of life and laughter then they have created that exceptional care home.
I would like to say thank you to the residents and staff from our care homes who contributed the inspiring quotes.
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Karen Austin, Healthcare Director. Sept 2024
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