The Care Inspectorate has worked with a team of experts to develop the ‘Make Every Moment Count’ resource, which contains easy to read and simple guidance for everyone supporting older people in a care home or at home.
The guide highlights how making the most of every moment can make a real difference to a person’s quality of life in simple but very meaningful ways.
By providing key messages on how to better understand an individual’s needs, values and lifestyle, the guide will help people working in care services to deliver an enhanced experience for Scotland’s older people.
The Care Inspectorate developed the resource in partnership with The Scottish Government, NHS Scotland, Alzeimer Scotland, the care sector, Scottish Care, the College of Occupational Therapists and The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Scotland.
Annette Bruton, Chief Executive of The Care Inspectorate said: “Make Every Moment Count’ is a tremendous resource which has real people at the heart.
There are some great examples of care across Scotland, but even the little things make a big difference. Every person using a care service should receive good quality care that reflects their needs and promotes their rights.
“I commend this resource to anyone who supports someone in a care setting whether that is in a care home or in a person’s own home and whether they are staff, relatives or friends.”
Scottish Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson MSP, visited Rowantree/Rodgerpark Care Home in Rutherglen, run by BUPA, to formally launch the initiative on February 19th.
Make Every Moment Count will be rolled out across all 1718 care services for older people in Scotland, with the potential to provide advice for the 44,400 people working in care services as well as those supporting an older person in a personal capacity.
Mr Matheson, said: “This Government expects the highest levels of care and wellbeing for those who are the most vulnerable in our society.
“This excellent resource has the potential to drive real improvement in care, as it recognises the importance of compassion, dignity and human rights. It will support people to have more choice, more independence and a healthier and happier life and I am delighted to be part of the launch.”
A range of local authority and private care services tested the resource before its official launch including BUPA’s Greenbank/Fullarton care homes in Irvine, whose manager, Melanie Abram sat on the working group.
Melanie Abram said: “This kind of thinking is already an integral part of what we do in that we don’t see activities as an ‘add on’; we see them simply as a part of everyday life.
“The ‘Make Every Moment Count’ resource really reinforced this message for us and put it into a format that everyone could easily understand, digest and put into practice.
“This has had a positive impact in the care homes I have responsibility for, as all staff are engaging with residents, regardless of the time of day or staff grade.”
Make Every Moment Count gives five key messages aimed at supporting everyone to value the life of a person in care:
- Get to know me
- It’s not just what you do… it’s how you make me feel
- Know what I can do and support me to do it
- Help me feel comfortable, safe and secure in my surroundings
- Remember little things all add up
For more information about the ‘Make Every Moment Count’ initiative and to view the resource online go to www.careinspectorate.com
The Care Inspectorate is dedicated to regulating, inspecting and supporting improvement of care, social work and child protection services for the benefit of the people who use them. Its goal is to ensure vulnerable people are safe, the quality of services provided continue to improve, and to uphold the quality of service to the standard people have a right to expect.
