Creating community

Communities are created through relationships between residents, family, friends, staff and the wider community.

'When I was not well one day, a lot of residents came up to see me as they missed me and visited me. It has helped. It is the other residents and staff together - everybody. I have more friends here.'

Creating a community involves:

• understanding and respecting the significance of relationships within the home;
• recognising roles, rights and responsibilities; and
• creating opportunities for giving and receiving, and for meaningful activity.

Relationship-centred care

Mike Nolan and a team at Sheffield University identified six dimensions that underpin 'relationship-centred care'. These six 'senses' acknowledge the subjective and perceptual nature of the key determinants of care for older people, families and staff. They are:

• a sense of security;
• a sense of continuity;
• a sense of belonging;
• a sense of purpose;
• a sense of fulfilment; and
• a sense of significance.

The care home environment

The building and environment of your care home can support the community and relationships within it. For example:

• a choice of communal areas close to each other;
• individual rooms where residents and their guests can enjoy complete privacy;
• gardens providing safe access to fresh air, plants and wildlife.

Relationships within the local community

These are important in maintaining quality of life for residents, fostering links with local organisations such as schools and voluntary groups. Easy access to transport, especially for relatives who are frail, is essential.

Resources on this theme

Issue 3 Care Home Staff Bulletin: Creating Communities (PDF, 1,167k)
Creating Communities poster (PDF, 689k)

Creating community (PDF, 76k)

This document contains a short summary of a research review undertaken as part of the My Home Life programme. The full literature review, including research references, further tools and examples of 'best practice', is available in Resources.