Staff at Hallmark Care Homes settings in Essex and East Sussex are to work towards achieving an internal accreditation in Namaste Care.
Eight team members from Admiral Court in Southend-on-Sea and Maycroft Manor in Brighton will attend a series of educational webinars hosted by Namaste pioneers Joyce Simard and Min Stacpoole before working towards achieving the accreditation.
Part of Hallmark’s Centre of Excellence Pathway, the accreditation will empower team members to provide Namaste Care to residents who are more advanced in their journey with dementia who would benefit from sensory activities.
Namaste Care has been developed with assistance from the Association for Dementia Studies research, the Jawa Group and the Founder of the Namaste movement, Joyce Simard.
Once the team have completed the webinars, the chosen care homes will create a Namaste room, identify residents which it will benefit and start to deliver daily Namaste sessions which may consist of a hand massage, sensory reminiscence activities, and food and drink treats.
The homes will also measure the impact of the Namaste approach on residents’ wellbeing using an evidence based-scale with the findings to be presented at the Namaste care international conference in September.
Once the homes have received an internal accreditation, Namaste Care International will support team members - ranging from general managers to dementia care managers and lifestyle leaders - to work towards achieving an external accreditation and they will become members of Namaste Care International themselves.
“Too often we underestimate the importance of those small connections made with each other. At Hallmark we are proud to offer Namaste Care, which focuses on ‘honouring the spirit within’. Teams within the homes have embarked on the new initiative and are committed and passionate to deliver innovative care, aspiring for ‘excellence’ within dementia care,” said regional dementia care practitioner Lisa Ruffell.
Admiral Court general manager Sue Cruse added: “We have been given a fantastic opportunity to be able to facilitate Namaste Care at Admiral Court. This will enhance the delivery of care that we give to our residents and we have a totally committed team that are really enthusiastic about making this a success.”
