Suggested answers are in italics.
‘There was a distinct lack of colour throughout the Pastel Rainbow Care Home. There was no Daffodil Yellow, Candy Pink, Warm Apricot or Eggshell Blue. Only Monotonous Magnolia.’
41. How would having tasteful and imaginative colour schemes in your care home affect the lives of both residents and staff?
• It would help the place feel like home.
• It could help poorly sighted or confused residents know where they were in the building if the floors had different colour schemes: ‘I must be on the top floor because the carpet’s blue.’
• The residents will feel valued if they are asked about what colours they want in their bedroom or lounge. Would I like someone to decide what my bedroom should look like? No! They might choose bright green or dark purple and I might not be too keen on either in my bedroom!
• The dining room would look more like a restaurant.
• Staff might feel that they were working in a home and not in an institution.
42. What three single words might describe a care home that is
Magnolia throughout?
Boring, cheap, institutional, uncaring, practical, unimaginative, miserly, economic.
‘Eve’s passed away.’
43. What will you do to support a resident who is dying, and the family of such a resident?
• Continue to provide a good standard of care while he/she is alive.
• Take care that I don’t avoid the resident or their family.
• Remember to talk about all sorts of things. Life goes on!
• Be prepared to talk about death with the resident if they wish me to, or -
• Refer this matter to a more senior member of staff to deal with.
• As always, be honest in my answers to questions. I shouldn’t lie. If I’m unable to answer a question, I should say so and then find someone who can.
• I should be prepared to involve other people, such as a Vicar, Rabbi or Imam.
44. Why should your residents die in your care home rather than in a local hospital?
• They will receive a higher standard of care in my home.
• Our staff can take time to ‘tie up loose ends’:
• A family feud may need to be settled.
• A son or daughter living abroad may want to visit and say goodbye.
• The resident may want to see their solicitor to check or change their will.
• Hospital staff might see the dying person as a failure.
• Our resident can die more comfortably in familiar surroundings with familiar faces.
45. When is the best time to talk about funeral arrangements with your residents and their families?
• When the resident first come into the home. Such a general enquiry might seem normal and is often expected and anticipated.
• When the resident is taken seriously ill and death is a distinct and real possibility.
• Try to pick a suitable time. Be sensitive, but be ‘up front’ and ‘matter of fact’. It is likely that the resident or their family may want to talk to you about such matters anyway, but are unsure about how to go about it.
46. All care homes have deaths. You should aim at ‘good deaths’.
What is a good death?
• A pain-free death, where physical discomforts have been minimised.
• A worry-free death, where anxieties have been removed as much as possible.
• A death with family members present, if this is what the resident wishes.
• A death where all loose ends have been tied up.
• A death where the resident is aware that someone is with them. Dying alone should be avoided if possible.
47. The family of a dying resident tells you that they want their relative to remain in your care home and not to be admitted into hospital under any circumstances. What do you do about this matter and what should the home do?
• Remember that you are caring for the resident and not their family. You and the home must do what is best for the resident.
• However, the views of the family are important and should be treated with respect.
• You must tell the person in charge of your shift, immediately. Make a note in the resident’s notes if this is the procedure in your home.
• This request can be agreed to without asking the resident, if the resident concerned is unable to express an opinion because they are too confused, sedated or in a coma.
• A terminally-ill resident should be better off dying in your care home than in a hospital.
‘The Rev Paul Lane had been asked to ‘do communion’ for the residents and this he thought he was doing.’
48. What contact might your residents have had with the Church over the years?
• They were probably married in a church.
• They may have had their children christened in a church.
• They may have attended weddings and funerals of family and friends.
• They may have attended a Sunday school as a child.
• They may have had help and comfort from a chaplain when serving in the armed forces.
• They may have sung in a church choir as children or as an adult.
49. In what ways might your residents find the visit of a vicar or priest to be positive and helpful?
• It may help to maintain a link with friends who are unable to visit the home.
• It may help to reinforce long-held beliefs and strengthen faith.
• It provides opportunities to discuss personal problems and concerns.
• It provides an opportunity to report any abusive behaviour from staff or fellow residents.
• It provides a chance to talk about death, dying, heaven, hell, etc.