We take a two-pronged approach with our philosophy about relationships, and both help us focus on Homeplace’s number one goal: we will do all we can to make each resident as comfortable and happy as they can be.
Let’s start with the first piece on relationships, which is related to each resident and each resident’s family. These relationships, we know, are the most important. Each resident must believe that we will give them the best care and the best place to live that we can. Families, meanwhile, must understand this, too, because family members know that they won’t be with their elder loved one at all times of the day to care for them. We know that letting us take care of their loved one is one of the hardest decisions they’ll ever make.
The second piece revolves around building relationships with the greater community. It may be just a bit confusing as to how building strong relationships with community partner’s affects individual residents, but you’ll understand in a moment. Before a senior comes to live with us, he has been involved in his community. Maybe he’s a churchgoer, he’s got a regular doctor, he has a favorite place he likes to go for recreation, such as the senior citizens center.
These services and recreation need to continue for our seniors after they come live with us. We want their doctors to feel comfortable stopping by, or at least feel confident that instructions given will be carried out by our staff. We want clergy to come pray with members of their congregation. We want home health workers to offer their services to our residents. And we want more—from entertainment to needed services—to come to Homeplace to help with the care of our residents.
Now, how can we ensure that all these people in the community work with us? Of course, the theme of this blog is the simple answer—by building relationships. And relationships are built by listening and understanding what our residents, family members, and community want from us, and then—here’s the key—following through on that. That’s our pledge to our residents and our community.
In the end, all our relationships will allow each resident to first transition to a new environment, which we will do our best to create in a likeness to his past home. Part of this environment is the ability to maintain the relationships he’s had in his life. These relationships will allow him to feel comfortable in his new home. It will be different, but it’s going to be a good different.
To contact the Homeplace of Henderson, email Jessica Beaven at jessica.beaven@homeplaceofhenderson.com or call at (270) 577-0534.