Maintaining identity

There is a need for a person-centred approach in care homes. Encouraging staff to learn more about residents' lives helps them to tailor their care to each individual.

It also gives older people the opportunity to integrate their past and present life experience along with their priorities for the future. This approach works best if the same staff can continue to work with the residents they know.

'It is important for people to realise that what may seem a small matter to the management of the organisation is of great importance to some people living in a place. Everyone has different standards and tastes, but knowing the individual and their ways is helpful.'

A variety of creative approaches

There are many approaches care homes can adopt to meet individual needs, including:

• linking with communities;
• thinking creatively about meeting communication needs; and
• being open to meeting particular spiritual, cultural, social and sexual needs sensitively.

Staff education and support

Person-centred care can be emotionally demanding for staff. Your care home should provide outlets for addressing anxieties.

Resources on this theme

Issue 2 Care Home Staff Bulletin: Maintaining Identity (PDF, 495k)
Maintaining Identity poster (PDF, 305k)

Maintaining identity (PDF, 85k)

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.