In our second part of exploring end of life care we look at the nationally recognised Gold Standard Framework (GSF), which focuses on giving people the best care, at the right time and in the right place.
Caring for people coming to the end of their life requires specialist skills and compassion; it’s not everyone who can take on such a role. From understanding the person’s situation and their wishes to providing the practical care and emotional support they require, through to helping their loved ones and friends at this challenging time, it is often an important and emotional responsibility.
As a society we want people to live as well as possible until they die and when the time comes, to do so peacefully and with dignity. In the care home sector there is a significant focus on how this should be realised for the good of all concerned.
Our Shropshire homes, Isle Court in Bicton and Oldbury Grange in Bridgnorth, have both received the nationally recognised gold standards award, with commendation, for the high quality of care for people in the last years of their life.
The Gold Standards Framework Care Homes Accreditation Quality Hallmark was given after a rigorous independent review. It is no mean feat since it was assessed against 20 clear standards of best practice and followed an in-depth training programme and a portfolio of evidence.
The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) ensures that the nurses and carers, as well as the entire staff teams offer the highest standards of care and support to allow residents and families to make decisions on how they wish to be cared for at the end of their lives. Plans are agreed and put in place to help residents and families at every stage of this journey.
It is all about person-centred care in a safe and comfortable home-from-home setting where people can feel confident in their care and make their wishes known before their health deteriorates.
Morris Care has a strong belief that a high quality of care should extend right to the end of days and should be delivered by trained staff in a compassionate and sensitive way. This responsibility and indeed privilege to provide excellent care at every step of a person’s journey has shaped our approach to end of life care.
There is support for family members too, whether it is advice on how an illness will progress to what arrangements need to be organised after death, to coping with bereavement. And it is reassuring to know they can stay with their loved one for as long as they wish as they approach the final hours.
Death is not an easy subject to think about or talk about but it comes to us all. At the end of life all of us are entitled to high-quality care as we have one opportunity to get it right.
For more information about end of life care services at Morris Care, click here.
For information about Dying Matters week, click here.
If you’d like to speak to someone about how we may help and support somebody at the end of life at Morris Care, call us on 0345 515 0098.
