An empowered person has choice, control and influence over the decisions and events in their life.
All too often, it can feel that as we get older we lose some aspects of choice or control in our lives. Someone entering residential aged care for the very first time may feel as though they must give up some of this choice or control. However – in the right environment and with the right care approach, each person can be empowered to maintain their choice, influence and independence.
How person-centred care helps to empower aged care residents
Everybody benefits when an aged care resident is empowered and encouraged to be an active partner in their own care. Person-centred care produces better outcomes, increases a person’s satisfaction with the care they receive, and improves both the quality and safety of that care.
So how is this care approach carried out in the day to day? It means that you have choice and control over your clinical care and support. It means that you can choose what you’d like to eat, how you want to spend your time and how you’d like to interact socially. It means that you can visit the café or watch a film, be surrounded by your books or take time out in the garden. You can invite friends or family over for dinner in our private family dining rooms. Here are a few other ways our locations are designed around person-centred care:
- Hour care homes are modern and specifically designed for residents’ care, comfort and privacy.
- You can expect high-quality private rooms with an ensuite, as well as beautifully appointed shared spaces where you can choose to spend your time.
- Residents are encouraged to take part in decision-making for Aurrum. Everyone is invited to resident meetings, and minutes of meetings are circulated to all residents.
- We offer a very diverse range of social activities to provide a wider choice, including exercise classes, happy hour, group outings, crafts, musical entertainment, spiritual services and local community activities.
- Meal options and timings are flexible and personalised, and we hold regular food focus groups to gain insights into our delicious seasonal menus.
How to empower a client in aged care: the very first steps
When you first arrive at an Aurrum Aged Care home, we sit down with you and work with you to develop a personalised care plan that aligns with your unique preferences and values. At all times, our Aurrum family takes care to use person-centred language so that the focus remains on the person receiving care. So instead of ‘client’ or ‘patient’, we use ‘resident’. We also empower residents through the dignity of risk.
What is the dignity of risk?
Everyone should have the right to make informed choices and to take calculated risks. Where a common expectation of aged care might be include being ‘wrapped in cotton wool’, our care approach maintains that everyone has the right to make their own decisions and to take reasonable risks. One small example is accompanying someone who wants to walk to the local store regularly. Though there might be a risk of that person falling, they are supported in their choice and independence. We provide support to make informed choices, but also firmly believe that every person has the right to experience life, learn from life and to take advantage of opportunities.
Find empowering aged care support
The steps for how to empower an older person in aged care are naturally the same as for a person at any age – that is, to support every person to have choice, control and influence over their life. If you’re searching for an empowering residential aged care provider in NSW or Victoria, we welcome you to visit our guide to aged care or to arrange a tour of an Aurrum Aged Care home in your local area.