New toolkit aims to revolutionise care for older people

Research from the Open University has led to the development of a new toolkit which is designed to encourage care staff to do things ‘with’ a resident rather than ‘for’ them, granting them a new sense of independence.  

Announced this week in a report presented at the House of Lords, which is titled: ‘The value and practice of relational care with older people’, which can be accessed in full here, a new toolkit has been designed to help transform the well-being of older people and staff in the care sector.

Funded by the Hallmark Foundation, the report highlights the toolkit is based on an emerging understanding of ‘relational care’ – an example of this is where older people and care staff share activities in a bid to learn and support each other through challenges.

Additionally, with a sector that has a soaring workforce turnover of 25%, at least 160,000 staff vacancies and 18% of care homes having to shut down in recent times, researchers claim that the toolkit they have created could help achieve increased staff retention rates, reduce recruitment costs, and improve well-being across the sector at a little extra cost.

Dr Manik Deepak-Gopinath, Lecturer in Ageing and Professor Mary Larkin, Professor of Care, Carers and Caring at The Open University, said: ‘Our research has enabled a better understanding what relational care looks like and the positive impact it has on older people, their families and care providers.  We know that meaningful relationships are developed in an environment that facilitates a mutual sense of belonging, trust and inclusivity, and where everyone can feel respected and valued.’

Jenny Kartupelis, MBE, Expert in Relational Care, has also commented: ‘Relational care is already practised in settings around the UK and now this seminal research bridges the gap between theory and everyday good practice with new, replicable and accessible tools to help ensure a more fulfilling life for all involved.’

The research that was conducted before the decision to design the toolkit was made was conducted across the four UK nations in settings where relational care was being practised – including three residential homes, one day centre and one supported sheltered housing complex.

Image: Dan Dimmock