Brighton and Hove

Feedback from Dignity Action Day in Brighton and Hove

Helping People get to know and understand each other better!

A wide variety of care services celebrated the day in a wide variety of ways.

In Care Homes:

Victoria Oaklands - had a tea dance with cake, children from Lancing School had visited, and residents had dressed up. They had received really good feedback. (see separate posting on website)

St. Dunstan’s (Blind Veteran's UK)- had put up bunting and had photo shoot with staff and residents to celebrate achieving the GSF (End of Life) accreditation award. There was tenpin bowling in the morning, and we looked at life maps and ‘getting to know you’ with music in the evening.

Birch Grove -had invited guests and residents (about 25-30 people) to a 1½ hour long debate in the lounge. People they had made a collage based on Maslow Hierarchy of needs and the ten dignity challenges. One of the residents gave us most of her magazines to cut for the collage to contribute to the day. There were lots of compliments for the collage.

Everybody had the opportunity to say a few words of how they felt about the care and services provided by the home geared around the 10 dignity challenges. It was amazing and astonishing to hear lovely comments and the compliments .

A relative visiting her husband on a daily basic said that we should organise such days like two more where we can air our feelings and thoughts. She also added that how amazing to see the staff coming from different countries do communicate harmoniously within the home and there is always a smile on their face to welcome you.

Adelaide- had had a coffee morning with coffee and doughnuts in the lounge for residents to meet each other.

Knoll House ICS - had made a “Make a Wish Card” asking residents what would they like to wish for and they had had tea and cakes and reminisced about old times.

At Wayfield Avenue- they had had a discussion on Make a Wish – what would you like to do different this month. Residents replied that they would like to go out and get off the minibus, so a trip to a garden centre was arranged, but residents were cold so maybe it would be a better summer excursion! They had also had a fish and chip meal and spoke about where they had lived before.

Other homes had had coffee mornings where residents had spoken about dignity and respect and how it had changed over the years, i.e. 'Mr or Mrs' now first names or even love or darling are used, which some residents understandably did not like.

One home had produced a lifebook for each resident where they could write about their family, school life etc. staff can sometimes forget that residents have had a life, some very interesting, this can help staff with topics of conversation and can help to see why residents may react in a certain way.

At Ireland Lodge - they had changed their meeting room into a dual activity room with a pool table and had had a wine and cheese party in the evening.

Wilbury Nursing Home had taken two residents to the Royal Sussex County Hospital to take part in an hour long discussion programme for the hospital radio station, this is now to be a regular spot.

Lyndhurst Rest Home- Fascinating memories and interesting stories were shared in a friendly group, supported by our activity co-ordinator and dignity champion.

People brought personal photographs with them. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from the time together; sharing how experiences; special days and those special to them shaped or changed their lives; and those attending were able to learn more about each other..

It also gave a greater insight to staff in how a person’s social history is not only relevant, but important when considering a plan of care.

On the 7th of February, Lyndhurst held a family meeting with residents on the subject of the Dignity Action Day and feed back was really positive

Sycamore Court - had a valentine celebration enjoyed by all

“When myself and Judy first went in, it looked like a posh restaurant, the food and entertainment was exceptional, it was an excellent evening, I was so thrilled to experience this with my lifelong friend.”

“Valentine’s day is usually for couple’s sharing romantic meals, however I feel it was a chance to celebrate the love of a friendship.”

Judy added “It’s really nice how these types of events actually enable our friends and families to ‘have a life’.”

Another of Sycamore Court’s customers was surprised with flowers and a card from Daniel Coles age 13, the youngest member of the Brightona Charity Rider’s. She said “Daniel is an incredible, thoughtful young chap.”

In Home Care Services:

-Enara held a forum for service users, - included tea and cake. It was well attended and people spoke about their life histories and achievements, got to know each other- and staff also attended and heard their stories. Additionally, it gave an opportunity people to feedback about how they experience their service. For one person it was the first time they had been out in several years.

-Care Outlook organised a trip to Hove Museum with afternoon tea. The Care Outlook Director also attended. Discussed Dignity in Care and Dignity Action Day. They produced a newsletter about the day and also included an article about informal carers and a Care Outlook Carers Strategy Group.

In Day Services:

Wayfield Avenue

Most of the members attending that day (19) requested that we celebrate by having a street style party inside the building and that they would like to make bunting and dress up for the occasion.

This lead to all sorts of frivolity and discussions about past parties and antics - lots of reminiscence.

Cream tea (scones jam and fresh cream) for afternoon tea. From Angie

Tower House

All members were asked to fill in a leaf on what dignity means to them/ or what could improve their life. These leaves were put on a tree, ( please see photo attached)

Craven Vale

Craven vale was not open on the 1st of February but we did have discussions with the members and they wrote on different coloured leaves what we did well what we don’t do well and what improvement they would like to see these have been attached to a tree and is displayed in the main lounge posters.