Why Building Relationships Is Essential In Aged Care
When it comes to aged care, the type of support that people usually think about is the physical care that older adults receive. From helping with chores around the home to medical assistance and personal care, there is a range of aged care services to help maintain health and quality of life as we age. At Whiddon, however, we also believe that in addition to physical care, building relationships is an essential part of support for older people. In doing so, we ensure residents and clients can enjoy a comfortable and fulfilling life as they grow older.
What is Relationship-Based Aged Care?
Relationship-based aged care is an approach to care that is centred around creating meaningful connections between residents, clients, their families, and the care workers. It prioritises understanding the choices of older adults and places focus on catering to their individual preferences. Care workers are encouraged to take the time to develop bonds with residents and clients, allowing them to tailor care plans and activities which suit specific needs. This creates an environment where people feel valued and supported while reinforcing freedom of choice and independence.
Benefits of Relationship-Based Aged Care
Employing a relationship-based aged care approach has several benefits for both older people and care workers. These advantages can include:
- Improving the quality of life: Building relationships can help residents and clients feel connected and engaged, leading to a more fulfilling life. These connections can also help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- Promotes holistic health & well-being: Prioritising the emotional and social needs of older people in addition to physical support may improve their overall well-being, including mental health and reduce the risk of other health issues.
- Improves delivery of care services: By connecting with residents and clients, care workers can improve their understanding of what each individual needs, ensuring they deliver the best quality of care.
- Enhanced job satisfaction: Building relationships with the people you care for can assist with establishing a greater sense of purpose and job satisfaction. It also provides opportunities to develop personal knowledge from these older adults’ life experiences and stories.
MyLife: Whiddon’s Model of Aged Care
MyLife is Whiddon’s award-winning aged care model focused on relationship-based concepts. It emphasises building personal connections while integrating care for social, emotional and physical needs. As a result, our care staff can deliver a highly personalised level of services based on working with our residents, clients and their families. This partnership also ensures continued participation in the matters that mean the most to them, creating a positive outcome for everyone.
Our MyLife model is implemented across our community and home care services, including activities and creative ageing programs designed to promote an engaging and fulfilling life. This can range from art and music classes to helping fulfil personal goals such as outings for swimming or fishing.
At Whiddon, we are committed to providing tailored aged-care solutions to all our residents and clients, which is why we ensure that employees are trained to deliver relationship-based care using the MyLife model. Learn more about our model of relationship-based care and get in touch today to begin your journey.
