Charity NO1153733 Registered office 46 Topham Crescent, Thorney, Peterborough PE6
0SR
Promoting Kindness
By identifying, celebrating and sharing good practice
Kindness is
Compassion without judgement,
No fear just one heart to another
The Edith Ellen Foundation Kindness Charter in Care
Homes:
Code of Good Practice in Holistic Caring
The care you would chose, and the standard of comfort and care in which you would like
to live, or to leave your own family, for the rest of their life.
Care that shines through and stands out, is the overall standard of protection,
dedication and commitment by all the management and staff to the promotion and
inspiration of kindness in nursing and care to all of their residents, particularly those
lost in the depth of the fog of Dementia, or suffering from complex health conditions.
Care where management and staff truly recognise and see each person in their care as
an individual and bring only warmth, compassion and empathy; never shadows of the
restrictions of loneliness and fear, where residents are left too long on the fringes of
care so they became withdrawn, isolated and lost, in an atmosphere of regimes of
indifference, abuse and neglect, and intolerant levels of comfort.
Care which shows peoples attitudes are relaxed at all times and what truly shines
through, and stands out, are the warmth, sincerity and kindliness of peoples
surroundings and care and residents are truly understood, counselled, valued and free
to speak out without fear of bullying, intimidation and retribution, and never are
inhibited, crushed and suppressed by their care.
Care where care primarily supports that much of residents wishes are truly reflected
in the sensitive management of those peoples own continued independence, and in
their own individual choice and control over doing what they choose to do, when they
want to do, with whom they want to do it with, in the place or environment which they
want.
Care where management and staff recognise and use communication systems as an
important two-way shared involvement and relationship in peoples individual nursing
and care, and sensitively address the people and the families in their care.
Care where what truly shines through, and stands out, is the knowledge and
understanding about peoples previous individual backgrounds, culture and journey
into care, their likes/dislikes, former lifestyles, family relationships and friendships and
where residents are happy, confident enough, and truly encouraged to be able to voice
their own personal view, needs and ideas to have an equal relationship in their own
care.
Care which shows residents are kept fully and timely informed, and they are consulted
and encouraged to vary, shape and develop their own daily agendas and ranges of care
services
Where the care given is never intrusive or imposed on the resident, and where care
needs are never assumed, but directly and individually known.
Care where management and staff reliably recognise and use nutritional care as a
valuable opportunity for introducing conversations that benefit the social interaction
and wellbeing of all their peoples individual care and their lives.
Care where residents are consulted and encouraged to vary, shape, develop and plan
special events and be involved in their own daily menus and venue, and the delivery of
food, when they want, where they want, and how they wanted it; and where
management and staff actively take an opportunity to sensitively socialise with
residents during mealtimes, and which encourages everyone to enjoy good food and
company.
Care where residents anticipated looking forward to meals and mealtimes, wanted to
eat, joined in with conversations, felt relaxed and took their time because of the whole
pleasing and comfortable experience, and where mealtimes never become just another
fixed inflexible routine, and lends to vented frustrations, and with more than just food
being wasted.
Care where management and staff reliably recognise the importance of sufficient fluids,
and residents having clean dignified and comfortable attire, at all times, is the
protection from infections and serious health illnesses.
Care where management and staff actively and sensitively encourage people to
frequently drink and those that are at risk from dehydration are sufficiently monitored;
where people are never left too long alone, without sufficient fluids, comfort, dignified
due care and attention to their needs, and which then raises question of abuse and
neglect.
Care where what truly shines through, and stands out, is that each person is treated as
an individual in their care, safe in the comfort and peace of mind that they are able to
drink what they want, when they want, day or night, and will receive timely attention,
understanding, empathy and care when they call for assistance.
Care where management and staff truly recognise and understand the importance of
experienced understanding, therapies other than medication, and effective timely pain
management for those that suffer, in the main from complex health conditions, and
particularly at the end of their life.
Care where highly skilled and trained staff understand that peoples fear, distress,
isolation, and frustrations will follow if they at not able to express their feelings,
concerns and their pain.
Care where each individual person is understood, and given all the timely individual
care and support they need, to cope with their pain and illness, and the opportunity to
have a dignified and peaceful end to their life.
Care where residents are never left alone, crying silently in the dark, isolated, and
without hope that care and life will change for the better, or without any beacon of
hope, that their suffering will ever end in anything other than a long and very painful
death.
Care where management and staff truly appreciate peoples fears and frustrations,
understand their likes/dislikes, their habits, diverse needs, and their cultural and
spiritual desires, and each individual resident receives kindly dedicated and sensitive
care.
Care where residents are still given respect, time to experience, explore and develop
themselves, it is arranged around empowering residents confidence to freely enjoy
their preferences, comfort and choices that are individual and unique for them, and still
allowed them to be themselves, and to live a safe and active life.
Care where there is a sympathetic and sensitive understanding for residents health
conditions, learning difficulties or any other differential stigma that is placed on
them, or associated with a name that they are given in society.
Care where management and staff truly understand the value and responsibility of
protection, trust, confidentiality and security of the people who are delivered into their
care service, and ensure that residents have access to true and confidential advocacy,
honesty and integrity in their individual care, and in the controls over their finance and
best interests, (especially, if they have no immediate family that visit or to act on their
behalf).
Care where, is that not only people that are highly regarded, but their personal
information, space, memories, personal effects and possession are too.
Care where nursing and care management and staff truly understand that care should
not obstruct the continuation of peoples former life and lifestyles, and residents are
given opportunities and encouragement, regardless of their individual disabilities and
isolation, to continue to personalise their lives, and to keep up previous relationships,
friendships and hobbies, and interests.
Care where spiritually each and every resident has the type of individual care and
treatment that is right for them, because they are cared for within a protective ring of
determination that ensures life is for living, holding onto what was good for them
previously, and finding new experiences that will inspire and motivate them to have,
and live, a good day every day.
Care where management and staff are fully informed about all aspects of Dementia and
residents regardless of the stages of their illness and complex health conditions, are
known as a person and cherished by experienced skilled and trained nursing care, who
are focused on residents needs for consistent support, recognition and familiarity,
continuity and reassurance.
Care where staff truly understood and listen to what people with Dementia are trying
to say to them.
Care where management and staff apply the tools and aids of new and innovated
alternative therapies, rather than rely on long-term medications, which might mask
other underlying health problem.
Care where management and staff have a standard of Dementia knowledge,
understanding and individual care that motivates and encourages movement,
expression, eating and manages successfully residents lack of control over their
behavioural patterns, their deep fears and frustrations, isolation and withdrawal from
society and into themselves.
Care where what truly shines through, and stands out is that residents in this dementia
service are still happy, confident enough, and are truly encouraged, and able, to voice
their own personal view, needs and ideas.
Care where residents, in all stages of their life, are nursed and cared for, and treated as
precious human beings, and what truly shines through, and stands out, are the warmth,
sincerity and kindliness of residents surroundings, and management and staff who
deliver excellent quality nursing skills, with complete respect, dignity, care, compassion
and kindness, particularly at the end of their residents life.
Copyright KB August 2015