Getting to know...a care home manager
Sam Fraser has worked in the care sector for 27 years. She now manages a 28-bed residential care home in Aberdeenshire in Scotland, where she looks after a number of residents with Parkinson's.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Making sure residents get the support they need to keep them as independent as possible. I want to give them a sense of self-worth and that they matter.
As a manager, I’m not as involved in the day-today care of residents as I used to be, but I do enjoy covering shifts.
And which parts are the most challenging?
The biggest challenge is when someone’s mobility starts to deteriorate. That can be very difficult. We can’t always meet their full care needs then and sometimes they may need to move to a nursing home. It’s very hard to see a resident have to move on.
As a residential care home, we don’t have nurses on site, but we do work closely with the local Parkinson’s nurse, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. Together we make sure our residents can stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.
We understand that Parkinson’s can fluctuate and that some days or times are better than others.
What support should someone expect when they go into a care home?
Before someone comes into the home, I will receive a care assessment from their social worker (or care manager in Scotland). After I have read that, I decide if we can meet the person’s care needs.
Often I will have a chat with the person on the phone or I go and visit them. Although COVID has made this harder, I would usually invite them to spend a day with us at the home. It’s an opportunity for them to get to know us and for us to get to know them.
We understand that Parkinson’s can fluctuate and that some days or times are better than others. So once someone has moved into the home, we are always assessing people to make sure they are able to carry out tasks they need to or want to do.
We keep a daily record of how someone has been and this helps give us a bigger picture over a period of time. If a carer has concerns, they will bring it to my attention and we can look at what might be happening. For example, if a resident seems off their food or is struggling to eat certain types of food, we could look at a referral to the speech and language therapist. If a resident isn’t getting on with their walker as well as they used to, we can talk to the physiotherapist.
Every six months, I do a care review with a resident and use the daily records to guide the chat. We talk about how things have been going and if they feel they need extra assistance with anything. If they’ve already received extra help from a therapy team, we’ll see if the resident feels like it’s helping and what the next steps might be.
What support should family members expect?
Before someone moves into the home, I like to meet family members. We have a chat so I can understand what their expectations are. It also gives me a chance to explain what we’re about and what we can offer their loved one. The family is usually supported through the process by their loved one’s care manager.
I’m very honest, so if I can see we might not be able to help someone, I will recommend another home that may be more suitable. It’s so important that family members know their loved one will be safe and happy.
It’s important to be selective when considering your care. There are lots of fantastic homes out there, but it needs to be right for you.
What advice would you give someone and their family considering a care home?
It’s important to be selective when considering your care. There are lots of fantastic homes out there, but it needs to be right for you.
Think about your needs now and how they might change in the future. For example, if you have concerns around your mobility, can a home offer you a room downstairs? This might mean you can maintain your independence for longer as you won’t need to rely on staff to help you to and from an upstairs room.
Our home is very relaxed. People can choose what they want to do across the day. We have 3 communal lounges and a large garden. In the dining room, mealtimes are huge social events! But everyone has an off day, so if someone would rather eat lunch in their room one day, that’s absolutely fine. I think that option is important, so think if a home is able to accommodate this.
If you can, go and look at different homes. Ask yourself, “Do I feel comfortable here? Can I see this as my home?” It sounds very simple, but it’s really important to get right.