Quality care
MHA’s services are rated annually by residents in an independent survey. Overall satisfaction has been maintained at 88% for several years. In the latest survey, 91% of MHA care home residents said that they would recommend their home to other people. ‘Being treated with dignity and respect’ was rated highest at 94%.
Quality staff
We support staff in achieving the skills and knowledge required to serve older people. We deliver development training to managers and those with the potential to make the most of their abilities and provide a high-class service.
We continue to develop an innovative e-learning programme for all staff, including training in care, health and safety, and food hygiene. Over half of our Care Staff are now qualified to NVQ level 2 or above. Specialist training is being delivered in complementary therapies and dementia care.
Therapies
Music Therapy
MHA offers music therapy in a number of our care homes for people with dementia, after a pilot study on the therapeutic practice yielded astonishing results. Well-being was shown to improve both during the session and thereafter.
Qualified music therapists interact with residents in one-to-one or group sessions, building rapport and facilitating communication, social interaction and a sense of enjoyment and well-bring.
People often talk of the music therapy work “touching their hearts” and “uplifting their soul”. One Home Manager captured the essence of it when she said, “People may think that this is all very simple, and yet it may be, but it is also something glorious and inspiring too.”
Reflexology
Reflexology is a form of ancient Chinese medicine that involves the massage of reflex areas found in the feet and hands. Reflexology does not claim to be a cure-all but certain disorders have been successfully treated by this method. These include problems common among older people, such as breathing disorders, digestive, circulatory and back problems, and stress.
We believe that reflexology offers an additional and alternative method of care and support for ‘the whole person’. Our members of staff are offered the opportunity to apply for training. Every qualified MHA practitioner is allocated time each week to offer the therapy, always with the agreement of an individual’s own GP. Basic Hand Reflexology will be available at all times from staff familiar with this process.
MHA is committed to exploring every possibility to ensure the well-being of older people: benefits experienced by our residents include:
- Improved sense of wellbeing
- Reduction in medication
- Reduction in stress and anxiety
- Improvements in chronic conditions including constipation, urinary infections, chest infections and much more.
Much can be communicated to a person through touch alone and this is particularly important for people living with dementia or in the palliative stages of illness.
Caring for the whole person
We continue to develop MHA’s service in the areas of spiritual well-being through our high quality care, chaplaincy services and end of life expertise.
The Final Lap ‘end of life’ training has enabled staff to support older people as they near the end of their life – a care priority that values both the individual and their family.
Life-story and reminiscence work, together with our continuing ‘Seize the Day’ initiative, has encouraged older people to recollect and celebrate their lives.
Continuing quality
We remain committed to providing the best services we can and continue our work to offer the highest levels of care and support to older people.