Whether adapting a family residence or designing a purpose-built care home, individual differences in tastes, needs and abilities mean that creating homes that simultaneously cater for all the people who live in them is challenging. People with dementia experience impaired memory, learning and reasoning and become more reliant on their senses. People with very poor vision face a different but not entirely dissimilar set of challenges.

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Colour and contrast

Colour and contrast can both be used to enable people with sight loss and dementia to identify different rooms and key features inside and outside of their homes. Good use of colour and contrast can facilitate independent living, for example, by supporting people to find their way around and to use fixtures and facilities such as lighting unassisted.

• Coloured doors (see also: Entrances and exits)
• Contrasting key features
• Contrasting potential hazards
• Choice of colour and contrast

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Lighting

Lighting is important to people with sight loss and dementia. Good lighting can make the most of people’s capabilities and help to compensate for poor eyesight; it can assist people in finding their way around both new and familiar spaces and help them to undertake specific tasks.

• Maximisation of natural light
• Types of artificial lighting
• Positioning of lighting
• Intensity and uniformity of light
• Control of lighting

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Fixtures and fittings

The design of fixtures and fittings within the home is important. Good design can ensure that those people with sight loss and dementia are able to easily identify and use fixtures and fittings in their homes. Well designed fixtures and fittings can facilitate independent living. For example, providing user-friendly kitchen devices may encourage people to prepare their own food, and suitable handrails and grab rails will support people to move independently around their homes.

• Handrails and grab rails
• Rugs and mats
• Controls (e.g. on appliances or for central heating)
• Light switches and electrical sockets
• Room furnishings
• Assistive technology
• Signage
• Colour and contrast (see above)

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Kitchens

Good layout and design of kitchens can make preparation of food and drink easier and thus facilitate independent living for people with sight loss and dementia.

• Lighting (see above)
• Worktops
• Colour and contrast (see above)
• Ovens, hobs and microwaves
• Cupboards and cabinet design

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Bathrooms

Good bathroom design can support more independence with washing, toileting and personal hygiene. Good design can also help with identification of the toilet and bathroom, especially during the night.

• Lighting (see above)
• Bathroom fittings (see Fixtures and fittings)
• Bathroom doors

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Entrances and exits

Good design of entrances and exits is important for people with sight loss and dementia. With good design

of both internal and external entrances and exits, people with dementia and sight loss will be able to move easily between rooms and to enter and leave buildings freely.

• Door security
• Accessibility of entrances and exits
• Visibility of entrances and exits (See also: Colour and contrast)
• Lighting at entrances and exits (See also: Lighting)

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Outdoor spaces

It is important that people are able to access gardens and outdoor areas adjacent to their homes. Going outdoors has been shown to have multiple benefits including:

• providing physical exercise
• helping to maintain normal sleeping patterns and daily rhythms
• improving mood and helping people to cope with stress

A well-designed outdoor space can be enjoyed by people with sight loss and dementia, as well as their families.

• Accessibility of outdoor spaces and path design
• Perimeter fences
• Plantings

At Social Care Alba (SCA), we know it can be daunting in a new job, which is why we like to make sure you have all the support you need to help you become a competent member of our team.

All of our new staff undergo a strict induction process which includes going through our policies and procedures, from infection control and medication management to complex behaviour, as well as Moving and Handling, and other practical elements of the care-at-home role. As care workers, it’s critical to understand the responsibilities we have towards those we support, and each session will give you the knowledge and skills needed to perform the regular every day tasks that you’ll be expected to undertake. 

We want you to get to know your colleagues

Our team is super friendly, and have all been where you are, so relax and get to know your colleagues as well as you can. We hold regular get-togethers, like lunches and occasional nights out to help everyone gel as a team, but you’ll also be spending much of your day with your colleagues on the job. Getting to know your team is incredibly important, as communication is key in our line of work, and we need to be able to share concerns and seek guidance quickly as situations arise. We say to everyone who starts with us, don’t be shy! Get to know who you’ll be working with and help to strengthen our great team!

We know nobody’s perfect!

If you are new to care, it will seem as though there are just too many things to remember – multiplied by every service user you come into contact with! However, many of these things will become second nature, as typically repetitive elements of keeping our service users safe and healthy. We know you’ll get there … and we do our best to give you a great start. 

For the first while, you will have a work buddy to shadow and learn the ropes from as you learn about your clients and their individual needs. Feel free to ask your work buddy questions, and don’t be afraid to query things you feel might be obvious; you won’t be the first to ask, and you certainly won’t be the last!

We are carers – we care

The clue is in the job title! Be aware that this job is psychological as well as physical. We are not just administering medication or delivering personal care. In this profession, we work with people of all ages, and all walks of life and we need to be open and non-judgemental in our approach, as well as offering compassion and kindness. People who gravitate towards caring professions generally have these qualities; our aim at SCA is to provide a strong foundation to help caring people be at their best!

Practical tips for your first days in your new role

A few tips for your first days with SCA …

Wear sensible footwear – quite apart from the fact that you will be on your feet for much of the day, sound footing is also crucial when supporting others who may not be so steady on their feet. Further, you need only once have a wheelchair go over your toes to know that sturdy shoes are a must!

Pre-plan your meals – Shift work can be difficult to get into and work around, so its best to pre-plan your meals until you get the hang of it. This includes bringing in lunches and snacks that will keep you going throughout the day, and having meals ready for when you get home. The first few weeks may leave you with little energy to conjure up a healthy meal when you get home!

Try to avoid wearing jewellery as it can catch easily during personal care, or be lost in any number of homes you visit – so try to minimise what jewellery you wear for your own safety.

Bring a notebook – make notes of whatever you can, and don’t feel awkward about asking for a second to scribble something down. Reading through your notes in the evening can also help to drive new information home …
And lastly – be yourself! It takes all sorts to make a tight team, and we appreciate and value every single staff member for the challenging but rewarding role they do.  If you haven’t applied yet, head over to our careers page for information on current vacancies …and we hope to see you soon!

It will be no surprise that infection control policies have undergone several changes over the last few years, as our understanding of Covid has progressed. In care-at-home situations, where staff members – and others – are regularly entering clients homes, it is critical that infection control policies are strictly adhered to by staff at all times to reduce the risk of infection.

However, whilst Covid has been an ongoing threat for us all, the general risk of infection from other sources is a huge concern for our clients, particularly as risk of serious illness increases greatly as we age.

Age and Infection Risk

Older adults are more vulnerable to infection, as the immune system weakens over time, and our responses to combat illness become less effective. For example, those with compromised kidney function will be more susceptible to urinary tract infections, or those with poor nutrition or problems with absorbing nutrients in the body, will have less resources to fight off an infection when it occurs. Staff are expected to be particularly vigilant of increased risk areas specific to their clients, and to report immediately, any incidences or situations which may put the client at greater risk of infection. 

Daily Diligence in Infection Control

Further, infection control does not begin and end at the home of a client – it is an ongoing diligence that we carry every moment of our working day. From regular hand washing, to covering small cuts with waterproof dressings, and sneezing or coughing responsibly – every contact with clients, their homes, and locations in between should be made with diligence towards avoiding and reducing infection. 

Families and Visitors

It can be hard for families to be mindful of infection control – especially when they are worried for a loved one during illness or after injury. However, to further reduce risk of infection, it is important to ensure that clients’ families and friends are also aware of their role in keeping their loved ones safe. Care staff should be mindful that visitors may have limited knowledge around infection control and help them to understand the risks involved, ensuring that they have the appropriate information in a way that can be easily understood.

Daily Diligence in Infection Control

Diseases and organisms can easily spread from person to person, and include stomach bugs and vomiting bugs, through to more dangerous infections such as influenza, MRSA, e-coli and C.difficile, and of course, Covid. In the event that a staff member becomes infected, they must immediately inform their superior and remove themselves from the workplace, returning to work only when cleared by their GP.

Close contact and indirect contact through meal preparation are part of a Personal Assistant’s every dale role, and staff must ensure that they are meticulous in their hygiene practices, in accordance with SCA policies. This includes wearing gloves where required, cleaning surfaces fully with antibacterial fluids, and preparing and storing foodstuffs appropriately. 

Waste Disposal

Clients can often toilet, prepare food and dispose of waste themselves. However, a decline in mental acuity or mobility can often affect the degree to which this is done safely. Therefore, SCA staff are required to follow precautions set out in our policies to keep their clients environment clean and safe.  Set out in our Infection Control policy are strict processes when dealing with waste disposal, which can include soiled laundry, sharps, biological and biomedical waste, as well as food and other perishable products. 

These are just a few of the issues covered in our SCA Infection Control policy. We encourage our staff to read our policies regularly to maintain the highest infection control standards, and to ensure our clients and staff are protected from the spread of infection. Let’s keep our clients safe and healthy!

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For more information please log in to QCS and read: SCR04 – Adult support & Protection