Culture Change: Homelike Environment

When homelike environment is mentioned, often we just think of the physical environment. This is certainly part of it. For more information on making the physical environment more homelike, go to http://farrelltraining.blogspot.com/2010/01/dining-culture-change-homelike.html.

However, the environment of any place is not just the physical surroundings, but also the atmosphere. An important part of homelike environment in long-term care is that the residents feel safe and comfortable.

Another aspect is privacy. Do residents feel that if they shut the doors to their rooms, their privacy will be respected? Will someone knock, ask if they can enter, and wait for permission before coming into the room? Or will they just barge in?

Do residents feel that they can speak up without fear of retribution? This is a major component of feeling safe.

Think of how you feel in your home. Do you think your residents feel the same way in theirs?