Mental Health in Care Home Facilities

Care homes managers have a pivotal role in maintaining and improving the well-being of residents that includes their mental health. The progress made in society regarding mental health awareness and support must extend to care home facilities, where mental health should be prioritised alongside physical health.

At Renray, we highlight the significance of mental health in care homes, emphasising that unmet mental health needs can have adverse effects on an individual's overall health and well-being. A person's emotional state can significantly impact their physical health, and thus, supporting residents' mental well-being is essential.

Promoting Mental Well-Being in Care Homes

A Person-Centered Approach: A person-centered approach is fundamental in ensuring that each care home resident is recognised as a unique individual with their own background and stories. Indeed, this approach focuses on individual beliefs, insights, and personal history to make residents feel seen for who they are, not just as occupants of a bed space.

Meaningful Activities
Providing residents, especially the elderly with activities tailored to their interests and capabilities ensures they can engage in enjoyable and purposeful pursuits. Regularly scheduled activities offer a sense of structure and purpose, helping residents feel productive.

Social Connections
Maintaining social connections is vital for the well-being of care home residents. Encouraging visits from friends and family, in-person or through online communication methods, gathers a sense of connection. Along with this, encouraging residents to interact with one another helps build a sense of community.

Access to Healthcare
Ensuring residents have access to regular healthcare, including check-ups for eyesight and hearing, is essential. Health conditions that affect these aspects can impact a resident's confidence so addressing them can help maintain independence and overall well-being.

Spotting Signs
Recognising signs that may indicate residents are struggling with their mental health is crucial. Changes in behaviour, withdrawal, altered sleep patterns, loss of appetite, and expressing guilt can be indicators. Care home staff, who are familiar with their residents' temperaments, can spot deviations in behaviour.

Mental Health Furniture in Care Home Facilities

In care home facilities, creating a safe and comfortable environment for patients is paramount. Part of achieving this entails the selection of mental health furniture that aligns with the unique needs and challenges faced by patients in these settings.

The key design features of mental health furniture are:

• Durability
• Anti-ligature Design
• Comfort
• Good Aesthetics
• Easy to clean

These design features of mental health furniture collectively play a vital role in promoting patient well-being in care facilities. Read more about our mental health furniture here.

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day, celebrated on October 10th each year, underscores the importance of mental health as a universal human right. In the UK, nearly half a million people reside in care homes, and their mental health is a significant concern. Depression, anxiety, and isolation affect many older residents, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges. Putting mental health in care homes high on the list is more critical than ever.

As we continue to advance in understanding and supporting mental health, care homes must evolve to provide holistic care that addresses the mental and emotional well-being of their residents. Through person-centered approaches, meaningful activities, and healthcare access, care homes can become positive and supportive environments where residents thrive.

How Renray Healthcare Can Help

At Renray Healthcare, we have over 50 years of experience in designing and supplying furniture for care homes, hospitals and more. So, with our bespoke and customisable range of furniture products, we can help you build the perfect care home with good mental health & well-being in mind. You can even see this for yourself by checking out our brochures today!