A Retirement Home.

A Retirement Home.

A proper retirement home should be established in a quiet, spacious area free of the modern-day hustle-bustle. It is essential to have an expansive compound, preferably with lawns, flowers, and vegetable gardens. There should be some trees for shade or shady structures where people can relax outside. The spaciousness of the buildings and compound is essential to eliminate a sense of confinement.

This facility should be designed to cater to the varied needs of the modern-day retirees. These may come from different sectors of the economy and will not just shed off their interests or hobbies because they have retired. The kind of background will dictate their benefits and programs that will keep them free of boredom and loneliness.

Due to diseases brought about by limited movement, there should be facilities for exercising and space for walking or jogging. Minds also need stimulation, and that necessitates the establishment of a library with literature covering a wide variety of topics. Audiobooks are ideal as they don’t stress eyesight. Facilities and amenities could be adjusted according to needs and preferences. Gardening, photography, hiking, cycling, occasional volunteering to serve, or lecture in institutions such as colleges and schools, writing of stories, and a host of other fulfilling hobbies are available.

Essential also is ICT facilities that can entertain, comfort, educate, and occupy the minds of the residents. These can enable them to link-up with their loved ones anywhere. Television and audio systems are also ideal. Games such as badminton, chase, scrabble, table tennis, darts, and other less physical sports could bring life to the residents. Programs should include access to spiritual nourishment, well-programmed medical check-up, and management, frequent interaction with a resident social worker for mental and psychological wellness, and some occasional short excursions to the seaside, recreational parks, nature walks, museums, countryside or visits by children or volunteers. Children have an exhilarating and comforting effect on senior citizens.

Our mission.

The purpose of all these is to ensure the physical and emotional wellbeing of the retirees. Being advanced in age, they are susceptible to many lifestyle diseases brought on by inadequate diets, habits such as smoking, lack of exercise, and many others. The programs in the facility should address issues effectively. The mental state is catered for. Appropriate medical services should be available anytime to investigate, manage, or treat any disorder or infection. This, in essence, calls for a medic among the staff members. It is a well-known fact that many retirement homes are centers of loneliness, neglect, and psychological diseases. It is even repulsive to some families just to suggest taking a loved one to these places. With the afore-mentioned hardware, the residents’ minds should be captured by a broad spectrum of activities geared to make life meaningful, entertaining, and fulfilling. Our old people are taken to these homes for quality care. However, as evidenced by recent events due to the prevailing pandemic; they were actually discarded and abandoned. This is what all retirees and their relatives fear and loathe. We are what we are because of the efforts of sacrifices and investments of these seniors. If we set a precedence of neglect, we should be aware that upon retirement, we shall also suffer the same treatment—every resident of whatever age deserves dignity and respect. In times of illness or disability, they should be assisted in their hygiene with confidentiality and privacy. Caregivers should accord them maximum decency in the final segments of their lives. They deserve it.

A care center should be just that; a care center. Labeling it a retirement center is repulse to some clients who associate it with expiry in usefulness.

We must have a goal, a road-map, a clear expression of intention, a mission. This shall be: We are committed to providing a home environment with compassion, warmth, and excellent care to enrich the lives of our clients, stakeholders, and communities within which we operate. With a qualified, experienced, and highly motivated team, your wellness comes first because we care.

Staff needed.

Senior citizens in these institutions need to feel as homely as possible. A positive and social environment provides calmness and psychological peace. This is crucial to the general wellbeing. The initial contact with members of staff in the facility should give an impression of a caring team. This and subsequent experiences should build confidence and trust, which is vital in such facilities. Our senior citizens should understand that we value them.

Services in a retirement home determine the professionals needed to work there. The facility should be headed by a manager who should have a level 4 National Vocational Qualification(NVQ), professional qualification as a health or social care worker, and a diploma or a degree in nursing. The experience puts him in good stead because he is in charge of the center. The manager adheres to strict regulations according to the law and conveys relevant information to the residents, their families, employees, and any statutory bodies involved. Through him, residents are advised and encouraged to participate in activities. The manager monitors all the business of the center and quality of healthcare.

The center requires an Occupational Therapist to treat injured or ill residents and activities needed to heal diseases that come with age. With an established framework, they conduct a series of programs designed to make residents healthier by improving and recovering from illnesses as well as acquiring skills for healthy living. A social worker is needed, and first-aid skills are an added advantage. A nurse, a complementary therapist, and a counselor. These form the core of the center. They are always in constant contact with the residents and well aware of the medical, physical, emotional, and psychological state of the residents. Other workers are needed for laundry, cleaning, catering, and different support roles. All these are vital because each one will then concentrate on performing the assigned functions.

Beneficiary.

The final beneficiary of these services is the resident, the senior citizen. Clean rooms, clean laundry, high-quality catering, fresh and well-manicured lawns are all for the benefit of the residents. Although the professionals form the face of the center, the support staff provide the back-up essential for success and therefore are indispensable. All the team must, thus, operate like a well-oiled machine.

Marketing.

Any method employed in an advertisement must put into consideration the target group. It should not be costly and but effective.

1. First, set up a well-designed, customer-friendly website outlining your services, location, target group, quality, and cost. By visual and audio media enrich your displays and accessibility by all media.
2. It is also easy to reach a more extensive clientèle by using the pay-per-clip(PPC) advertisement.

Carefully selected visually compelling images will impact on potential clients.

3. The use of blogs will also enhance exposure, trust, and confidence among clients.
4. The residents already housed in the institution are very useful in marketing. An image of a happy and homely ‘family’ in the institution will create a lasting impact.
5. Manage and build your image and reputation on social media. Respond professionally with dignity to any criticism, however bitter or scathing. Identify the critics and deal with them out of the Internet to avoid any further damage.
6. Use review sites effectively.

Transparency is always a virtue. Whenever any resident inquires or seeks any information, it is necessary that they are informed adequately. This will eliminate any doubts and enhance trust. Why is, is disclosure necessary? In the ongoing COVID19, pandemic care homes have posted the highest number of deaths due to carelessness, abandonment, and neglect. Clients, residents, and stakeholders need assurance that these misdemeanors will not occur within their institutions, hence the need for transparency.

7. Address the client’s reservations and insecurities. Individual clients have unique needs that should be prioritized over anything else.
8. By the use of warm and friendly language, create brochures that outline the modern-day seniors and the uniqueness of their needs and interests.
9. Facebook adverts are essential in reaching potential residents and clients. The Facebook platform offers an insight into who is viewing your adverts and enables you to target well-tailored content to a specific audience.
10. Target adult children who are the decision-makers when it comes to sending their parents to these homes.
11. Periodic events involving the residents and stakeholders bring happiness and a joyful occasion, which lifts the mood and lightens the atmosphere in the house. This is a selling point.

Challenges when dealing with senior citizens.

Some of the pertinent ones are:

1. Unwillingness to be helped. Some individuals won’t accept assistance even in dire conditions where plainly they can’t do without it. This includes personal hygiene and toilet affairs. It is true that human beings feel great indignity if such privacies are breached, but in extreme conditions, assistance is necessary for the general hygiene of the home. A counselor comes in handy in such situations, and sometimes a close family member could intervene.
2. Dementia. This condition wipes out all memory and inhibits an individual’s mental functions and relationships. Expertise in handling such cases is essential. A qualified staff member shall be assigned to cater to the specific needs of the affected individual and be available to handle any needs as they arise.
3. Personal care. This is needed by residents who are advanced in age. Physical frailty requires close, constant, and dedicated care and supervision. In a home with many residents, that may be a challenge because others will also need attention. This problem can be solved by counseling and the employment of more staff.
4. Complaints. These come in all shades and colors. They are constant and varied, yet they have to be addressed. Poor quality food, sleep disruptions, lack of social interactions, constant requests for assistance are few of the multitude of complaints raised. It is difficult to satisfy or please some residents; however, one tries. In such cases, the investigation should be made to establish the truth and correction of any shortcoming addressed at once with full information to the aggrieved party.
5. Diabetes, glaucoma, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, kidney problems, and arthritis are some of the common ailments and conditions affecting seniors. Because they need medical and therapeutic attention, close observation is vital. This consumes much time, and before the end of the day, exhaustion is high. The staff may suffer from stress and low morale. The therapist and nurse will attend to these problems, and in case further intervention is necessary, they will arrange for it by involving the management.

6. Space. After staying for sometimes in a place, one feels bottled in. A large area for recreation or just a beautiful view appeals to our senses. By walking or being wheeled around, one gets a sense of peace and satisfaction. Homes need precious space, which is expensive and unavailable.
7. Costs. Medical conditions and ill health come with costs. Whenever professional assistance is sort for any resident, there is a cost implication that has to be incurred.
8. Attachment. Over a period of time, the resident gets emotionally attached to a staff member. This makes it difficult for other staff members to attend to such an individual who only prefers a particular caretaker. Besides, the resident suffers loneliness or stress in the absence of the caretaker. Such is also possible vice versa where a caretaker gets too emotionally attached to a resident. This affects service delivery. A rotational routine should be prepared so that a caretaker takes a short time in a particular area and moves to another one. Counseling is also due in such cases and should also involve the affected staff member.

Special needs for baby boomers generation.

As the baby boomers generation ages into senior citizenship, the care home should have amenities suited to the kind of life they have lived.

The home should be equipped with Wi-Fi for constant Internet access. With the right hardware such as computers, these seniors can study, read on-line books, write their biographies, and the like. This facility puts purpose in their lives so as not to feel redundant.

The provision of music equipment such as the piano, saxophones, guitar, drum-set, and percussions will put work in the hands of the musically oriented ones.

A short golf course, a bowling facility, photographic hardware, and a garden are innovations that spice up the lives of senior citizens.

-A mini-gym with appropriately designed equipment for those who are health enthusiasts will suffice. These are not common in most homes where boredom and idleness reign supreme.

-Some retirees are eager to follow up on their investment on the stock exchange, horse races, and stay abreast of current affairs. Requisite facilities must be availed.

Community support for the success of the home.

Some groups and organizations are crucial to the success of a home. These include:

National Care Association

Residents and Relatives Association.

Royal Volunteer Service.

Alzheimer’s Association.

Peter Clyne(Volunteer service).

National Care Service.

National Activity Providers Association(NAPA).

Many more are based within the host communities.

Opposition to Senior’s home.

There many people who may have reasons to oppose the establishment of the project. These include:

1. Those with previous bitter experience where their loved ones were mishandled. Such cases are rife from the recent deaths arising from abandonment.
2. Established institutions won’t appreciate competitors close by as it would expose their shortcomings and duplication of already existing services.
3. Statutory bodies governing the establishment, registration, inspection, and regulation of these establishments may not sanction due to the locality, environment, and other health-related aspects.
4. Environmental groups may feel the natural beauty of a place may be destroyed.
5. Neighboring families may resist due to the possibility of infection leaking into the nearby communities. Some feel that the aged are susceptible to many harmful diseases.
6. Local authorities such as the town council may not approve it based on reasons of congestion in the community, the strain on water, electricity supply, gas, sewerage system, and other resources.
7. Some ethnic communities who do not accept the concept of placing old parents in care homes.

How to resolve opposition to a care home.

-Using the senior citizens’ organizations organizations and other support groups lobby to convince the local community and local council to support the project.

-Employ the residents(senior citizens) in campaigning for the project.

-Share out the benefits to the hosting community.

-Design a special package for the most outspoken individual or family member.

-Employ targeted lobbying and engagement with most vocal critics.

-Address concerns and adjust or correct where necessary.

-Employ those in support within and without the community in seeking support for the project.

References:

-Jennifer and Moody-Aging controversies.