Clare Court Celebrates Culture and Heritage
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence stipulate that ‘Older people in care homes are offered opportunities to participate in meaningful activity that promotes their health and mental wellbeing’ (NICE 2013). Clare Court Care Home in Birmingham truly reflects the city’s rich cultural heritage and meet residents’ needs by putting them at the heart of care planning. Using Avery’s comprehensive Well-Being & Activity Model, our home supports quality and appropriate care with meaningful activity in residents’ daily lives and carers take a person-centred approach to listen, respect and provide personal choice.
Below are a few of the latest exciting projects and community initiatives that we are involved with!
Faith
Families have told us that it is important for residents to be able to continue practising their faith, even if they are physically unable to attend the temple, and we totally agree! Residents should have access to both spiritual and physical care. A great example of this is the local Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sikh Temple in Smethwick who regularly visit our homes to pray and share in culturally significant interests and conversations after residents expressed their interest in the religion.
An introductory workshop into Muslim faith is being planned with the Iman from Masjid Usman Mosque in Smethwick too. For residents of other faiths, we have developed excellent relationships with the local Seventh Day Adventist Church, whose choir visits every three weeks to sing hymns, and the local Baptist Church, who hold monthly service. Resident Carol Eaton enjoys taking part in the activities; “Some of us have become close friends and it’s a friendly community.”
Culinary Specialties
The homes dining choices provide the rich cultural diversity of their communities with a wide range of culinary dishes with Caribbean, Asian and European options every day. The culinary teams bring cooking experience and craft skills from their own continents and cuisines, and adapt menus to not only meet the cultural needs of residents but also their dietary requirements for the varying religious groups and those living with medical conditions. Resident John Andrews comments: “The home is great and I am cared for. The food is really good!”
Arts and Community
Another exciting project our home is involved with includes local artist Imogen Morris. Imogen’s latest exhibition, called ThreadBare, focuses on different areas of womanhood and the roles that women have in society through subjects of friendship, motherhood and independence. Four residents have agreed to take part, representing the strength and longevity of female friendship and how these relationships can stand the test of time! Our residents will have individual embroidered portraits made that will be connected with a sped-up recording of their conversations playing in the background. The exhibition is running from 28th September 2019 to 20th October 2019 at the Digbeth Art Space, and will also include other citizens of Birmingham. One of our residents, Naomi Lee, said “Imogen’s embroidery is beautiful, I have not seen anything like it before. I look forward to seeing the finished work”.
We are always looking at other ways we can incorporate our local community and celebrating culture at our home. With the success of using poems with our Life Story Work with our residents, we knew we had to see how else we could incorporate the power of the spoken word for our residents to enjoy. Following from this, we are delighted to announce that the Light Post Theatre Company, who are based at Birmingham’s Repertory Theatre and comprised of young black and dual heritage men aged between 16 to 25 years old, will be coming to delivery performance poetry to our residents during Black History Month.
Here’s what we got up to last year for Black History Month:
Our Home Manager, Kim Young, encourages making life meaningful for residents: “We are dedicated to fulfilling occupational needs, including accomplishment, affirmation, friendship and personal preference through our residents’ cultures and beliefs. No one should give up who they are just because they need more support in their later years!”
Linda Patel, Head of Well-being and Activity at Avery Healthcare, says “Clare Court is a great example of how to support a resident’s self-identity, normality and social inclusion, truly enhancing their well-being.
