Signature Senior Lifestyle Launches New Dementia Care Strategy
Signature Senior Lifestyle has launched its new dementia strategy which sets the highest of standards in dementia care.
My Life Dementia Pathway is the care provider’s five-year strategy and bids to create innovative, warm and welcoming dementia communities. Signature does so by providing a comprehensive, 360-focus on five key areas.
• Information of My Life
• Diagnosis & Assessing My Life
• Supporting My Life
• Living My Life
• End of My Life
As part of the strategy, and exceeding the sector-standard approach, all Signature chefs are upskilled on the understanding of how dementia affects nutrition and hydration, learning to create appetising meals which takes into account all the senses.
The finer detail of our furnishings has also been considered as part of this comprehensive strategy, including how Signature homes will utilise both bright and contrasting coloured furniture to enable residents to navigate around their environment with ease and promote safer mobility.
Technology will also have a crucial role to play in further promote independence among residents, whilst also maintaining safety by installing state-of-the-art sound, movement and/or camera sensors in bedrooms, where required.
Underlining its whole-home approach, the My Life strategy features a mandatory training programme for team members across all 36 of its care homes.
Of Signature’s 2,000 residents, 30% are currently being supported living in its dementia communities.
All 3,500+ Signature colleagues will be embedding the My Life strategy, which also provides support to residents’ families and friends in informal social gatherings, events and individualised meetings.
The training programme seeks to understand the perspective of a person living with dementia, through a practical immersion workshop to gain a first-hand understanding of the daily experiences of those living with dementia.
In developing its strategy, Signature has consulted with Alzheimer’s Research UK and continues to do so ensuring it reflects the latest available guidance.
Overall, the strategy highlights how Signature will develop exceptionally high quality and adapted environments that are conducive to living with dementia. It also helps to build socially fulfilling lifestyles, individually tailored to meet the needs of our residents to create a meaning and purpose to daily living.
Michele Saunders, Head of Dementia at Signature, said: “Signature provides the best possible care for our dementia communities, to enhance familiarity, and build trusting relationships and gain knowledge of each resident
“My Life underpins our approach and allows us to see the person living with dementia as an individual so we can make a difference to the lives of all our residents every day.
“Recruiting team members who are passionate about supporting residents living with dementia is fundamental. We see it as essential for all of our team members to gain an in-depth understanding of dementia to really deliver comprehensive person-centred care on a daily basis.
“Achieving this requires constant energy, plenty of enthusiasm, and unwavering empathy and understanding. We are committed to ensuring our dementia care remains industry-leading and sets the standard for generations to come.”
