During these times of challenge and ‘strange’, the team at Meaningful Care Matters has listed below some of the best approaches to keeping and building on meaningful connections between those being cared for, their loved ones, and those caring across the health and social sector:
Utilising technology
Keeping our distance does not mean we can’t communicate and connect with people on a regular basis. We need to be creative with our approach to connection to maintain the art and heart of conversation. Sharing the events of lived experience of the loved ones we live with and those who matter to us, as well as being able to create new meaningful memories, should be facilitated and encouraged. Widely accessible technology can be seamlessly integrated into care environments and the stereotype that older generations aren’t adept in using smart tech is quite untrue nowadays – many people are proficient in using tablets and smartphones.
Videoconference Applications
Videoconference applications such as WhatsApp, Zoom and Skype can be very helpful in connecting people. They also bring the added benefit of being able to see, hear and feel in real-time to the person on the other end of the device. Particularly for those people living with a dementia, the use of modern technology can bring a sense of familiarity, recognition, and calmness. Being able to see a loved one can create connectedness and meaning through relationships.
Bringing familiarity to PPE – utilising touch and body language
Many of those who work in health and social care would have never imagined they would be donning a mask, gown and other protective wearables to the extent we are wearing these in our current experience of life. This has naturally been seen as a highly clinical approach and can be a barrier reinforcing ‘them and us’. PPE is a fact of life currently, but it does not need to be an excuse for reinforcing a disproportionate ‘them and us’ power imbalance, or a lack of connection which is meaningful, loving and able to ‘cross the bridge’.
Our best tools are ensuring we let the real person shine through the PPE. There is a saying that the eyes are the window to the soul and it’s true that eye contact in western cultures is important. When we consider the soulfulness of feelings, we can certainly show our emotions through our eyes, so even when carers are wearing masks, they can still let their eyes smile. Tone of voice is also a key in providing calmness and showing the real you. Be loud, be proud and be you. Make sure the art of conversation is not impeded by the masks we are wearing. Continue to sing, continue to talk, and continue to engage.
Getting creative with communication
Although we can’t physically embrace each other as we used to, this does not mean that all touch is completely banned. Our methods of touch will change and of course, are highly dependent on our relationships and current wellness/health. There may be limitations on visiting our loved ones in a care setting and giving them a physical hug, but the methods of communication are limitless. From writing letters that are sprayed with recognisable smells such as their or your favourite perfume, to sharing a video diary of the daily lives of children
and animals belonging to relatives, let your imagination run wild. For those that are able to hold conversations through windows, it can be a fun idea to draw on the window using wipeable pens – something people can create together and may stick in the mind of someone with a dementia, boosting positive feelings each time they look at it. Alternatively, you could even plant and look after ‘windowsill garden’ together.
Overall, by slowing down in what is widely seen as a time of panic, those in the health and social care sector can help ensure people aren’t forgotten, aren’t just a task, and aren’t left feeling lonely. A little can go a long way and the simplest of meaningful connections can make a huge difference to someone’s daily experiences.
If you’re curious about how we can help you create a more person-centric environment within your care community, drop us a line below: