How to plan for winter in a care home

Winter can be a difficult season for older and vulnerable people living in care homes. Viruses are more prevalent as the temperature drops, increasing the spread of flu, infections and colds. For our residents, getting a simple cold virus can lead to more serious conditions, such as chest infections and pneumonia.

Preventing hospital admission for residents is our main aim. We must be prepared for winter, which means ensuring accurate medical records and checking details like if power of attorney (where others are legally allowed to make decisions on behalf of the patient) are in place.

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Sufficient care plans for every individual should be updated throughout the year, but having accurate information is particularly important during winter. All things relating to the health of the patients, from what medicines they’re taking to whether a relative is going on holiday, need to be recorded. Everything relevant to a person’s health and wellbeing should be on the care plan as it could be vital should they become unwell.

Hospital at home

To help prevent hospital admission, we’ve a ‘hospital-at-home team’, who can administer intravenous antibiotics, cannulation and ensure monitoring (blood pressure and oxygen levels) as you would get in hospital. At other homes I've worked in, the response if a resident became unwell would often be to call an ambulance, but we try not to do that unless absolutely necessary.

Everything needs to be documented

This is because hospital isn’t always best for an older person; they’re taken from their home, away from what’s familiar and comfortable for them. It might also mean they’re more susceptible to infection. If we’re able to treat people in their own home, that’s best practice.

For some, being in hospital provokes emotional reactions. They mightn’t understand why they’re in hospital or feel anxious in unfamiliar surroundings – this can be confusing and distressing for the patient, so our hospital at home team provides that much-needed service.

Family matters

Working with the families of residents is also an important part our work as they help us understand their loved ones’ personal preferences, especially as some people might have dementia or struggle with understanding. A relative can help us when writing consent forms or can advise about regular medications and other health issues.

Within our large care home, we have a separate unit for people living with dementia. People under my care generally have capacity to make decisions relating to their care, but they might have conditions such as diabetes, MS (multiple sclerosis), stroke or heart failure.

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All this needs to be understood by every member of staff on shift, including agency staff who might not be as familiar with patients. Everything needs to be documented for anyone to understand. This is why advance planning is so important to ensure residents have the best care possible.