The author manages a residential care home with 27 beds. Over her time working at the home, the major change has been that the proportion of people with dementia has greatly increased. The chapter describes how the home operates. The staff team is relatively stable, with obvious benefits for getting to know the residents and maintaining good standards of care. There is a considerable emphasis on staff training. This account outlines how care is provided, describes the home environment, and the varied activities provided. Relationships with outside agencies, including primary care and mental...

The author manages a residential care home with 27 beds. Over her time working at the home, the major change has been that the proportion of people with dementia has greatly increased. The chapter describes how the home operates. The staff team is relatively stable, with obvious benefits for getting to know the residents and maintaining good standards of care. There is a considerable emphasis on staff training. This account outlines how care is provided, describes the home environment, and the varied activities provided. Relationships with outside agencies, including primary care and mental health services is important, as is the contribution made by volunteers. Care practices have had to adapt to the needs of individuals, with imaginative care planning that takes into account people’s identities both past and present in order to understand their feelings and behaviours.