How can churches support care homes during this crisis?
There has been so much in the news about the crisis in care homes during this virus. It's been heartbreaking to hear about residents separated from loved ones, high number of residents dying and staff working with inadequate supplies of PPE. What can churches do to come alongside care homes at this difficult time, when business as usual has been disrupted? We would love to share some ideas with you.
An important first step is to phone your local care home and find out what their needs are at this time. If you usually run services in the care home then you already have a trusting relationship with staff. Care homes will have different needs depending on how they have been affected by the virus, and these needs may change on a regular basis. Let the care home know that you are appreciative of all their staff are doing, and that you are praying for them. This is an anxious time for those working on the front line, often with limited supplies of PPE. There is the fear of catching the virus, as well as the anxiety of unwittingly passing the virus on to the vulnerable people in their care. Some may have experienced the death of a large number of residents if there has been an outbreak at the care home. Consider if there are things you can do to offer pastoral support to the staff team.
Depending on the needs that the care home have, below are a number of other ideas of how you can support care homes at this time.
1. Buy an android tablet or two and set it up with Zoom and games like Words with Friends, that staff can help residents to use to stay connected with loved ones. Perhaps there are people in your congregation with time on their hands to play a game like Word with Friends with a resident who has capacity. These links to the outside world can help residents to feel less isolated. Be prepared to offer a bit of tech support initially.
2. If your church is now running online services, could care home residents plug into them? If you've been able to give them an ipad or android tablet this could be used. Consider getting a casting device that they can plug into their TV so that a group of residents can watch the service together. We have seen a number of care homes make the most of online church services for their residents by doing this.
3. Congregation members could write letters to residents, and children could draw pictures. Again, these bring vital connections with the "outside world".
4. Many care homes are short of PPE like masks, gloves and gowns. If there is a ScrubHub or something similar in your area, perhaps you could provide a connection between the ScrubHub and the care home, enabling scrubs and gowns to be made for staff. Or, if you have the resources, you could source gloves, masks and aprons for the care home (do check with the care home first to make sure you source the correct type). Most care homes need the certified Type IIR surgical masks (the R at the end is very important and shows that the mask is fluid resistance).
5. How about putting together a goodie bag for care staff with handcream, lip balm, chocolate and other goodies, along with a handwritten note of appreciation letting the staff know that you are praying for them? This is so easy to organise and means so much to staff. We have found church members very eager to get behind this sort of initiative. Read more about our goodie bag initiative here, with ideas of what to put in.
6. Supporting relatives. This has been an emotionally draining season for relatives used to visiting their loved ones in a care home. You can read the experience of our ambassador John Noble, whose wife Christine is living with dementia in a care home. Could members of church pastoral team be available to support relatives? If so, let the care home manager know - they are in regular contact with relatives and could pass on contact information to relatives who might appreciate support. (They won't be able to pass on the contact info OF relatives to you, but they can pass on your contact number or email TO relatives). You could also leave contact cards at the care home.
7. Last, but by no means least, we can pray for the residents and the staff. Here is a prayer for care homes:
An important first step is to phone your local care home and find out what their needs are at this time. If you usually run services in the care home then you already have a trusting relationship with staff. Care homes will have different needs depending on how they have been affected by the virus, and these needs may change on a regular basis. Let the care home know that you are appreciative of all their staff are doing, and that you are praying for them. This is an anxious time for those working on the front line, often with limited supplies of PPE. There is the fear of catching the virus, as well as the anxiety of unwittingly passing the virus on to the vulnerable people in their care. Some may have experienced the death of a large number of residents if there has been an outbreak at the care home. Consider if there are things you can do to offer pastoral support to the staff team.
Depending on the needs that the care home have, below are a number of other ideas of how you can support care homes at this time.
1. Buy an android tablet or two and set it up with Zoom and games like Words with Friends, that staff can help residents to use to stay connected with loved ones. Perhaps there are people in your congregation with time on their hands to play a game like Word with Friends with a resident who has capacity. These links to the outside world can help residents to feel less isolated. Be prepared to offer a bit of tech support initially.
2. If your church is now running online services, could care home residents plug into them? If you've been able to give them an ipad or android tablet this could be used. Consider getting a casting device that they can plug into their TV so that a group of residents can watch the service together. We have seen a number of care homes make the most of online church services for their residents by doing this.
3. Congregation members could write letters to residents, and children could draw pictures. Again, these bring vital connections with the "outside world".
4. Many care homes are short of PPE like masks, gloves and gowns. If there is a ScrubHub or something similar in your area, perhaps you could provide a connection between the ScrubHub and the care home, enabling scrubs and gowns to be made for staff. Or, if you have the resources, you could source gloves, masks and aprons for the care home (do check with the care home first to make sure you source the correct type). Most care homes need the certified Type IIR surgical masks (the R at the end is very important and shows that the mask is fluid resistance).
5. How about putting together a goodie bag for care staff with handcream, lip balm, chocolate and other goodies, along with a handwritten note of appreciation letting the staff know that you are praying for them? This is so easy to organise and means so much to staff. We have found church members very eager to get behind this sort of initiative. Read more about our goodie bag initiative here, with ideas of what to put in.
6. Supporting relatives. This has been an emotionally draining season for relatives used to visiting their loved ones in a care home. You can read the experience of our ambassador John Noble, whose wife Christine is living with dementia in a care home. Could members of church pastoral team be available to support relatives? If so, let the care home manager know - they are in regular contact with relatives and could pass on contact information to relatives who might appreciate support. (They won't be able to pass on the contact info OF relatives to you, but they can pass on your contact number or email TO relatives). You could also leave contact cards at the care home.
7. Last, but by no means least, we can pray for the residents and the staff. Here is a prayer for care homes:
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Father, God of power and might, we ask for your hand of protection over care home residents and the dedicated staff who look after them. Shield them from the coronavirus.
God who heals, we ask for your healing for residents and staff who already have the virus. God of peace, we pray that carers and residents won’t live in fear of this pandemic, but would experience your peace that passes understanding. God who provides, we ask for the provision of protective equipment for staff to use. Where there have been shortages in supplies, let there be miraculous provision. God of comfort, please comfort those who mourn, and those who are missing their loved ones. Thank you that you are the God who sees, and the God who is present. May your divine presence be felt in care homes across our country by staff and residents alike. May they know that you see their needs, and that you are there with them in the storm. Amen. |
If you'd like to hear more about these ideas, Tina recently appeared on the panel for a webinar for the Cinnamon Network, talking about what churches can do to reach, bless and support the staff and residents of their local care homes during the extended lockdown caused by COVID-19. Click here to access a recording (video or audio only) and to download the notes.
Do let us know your stories if you try any of the above - we love good news stories!
Do let us know your stories if you try any of the above - we love good news stories!
Other Resources
Anna Chaplains have been adapting their way of working to support care homes during lockdown.
Below are some links and resources from their website. Their blog is updated regularly.
How Anna Chaplains are using Skype to conduct services in care homes
Tips on how to conduct a church service over the phone
Sending copies of their Bible Reflections for Older People to care homes
Home Prayer leaflets to guide care home residents and those in lockdown/self-isolating at home how to pray in such challenging times
Sharing colouring sheets produced each week following lectionary themes for use in care homes with activities coordinators or for the housebound
Advice on ‘How to conduct a funeral at home’ – a template service for lockdown funerals
Below are some links and resources from their website. Their blog is updated regularly.
How Anna Chaplains are using Skype to conduct services in care homes
Tips on how to conduct a church service over the phone
Sending copies of their Bible Reflections for Older People to care homes
Home Prayer leaflets to guide care home residents and those in lockdown/self-isolating at home how to pray in such challenging times
Sharing colouring sheets produced each week following lectionary themes for use in care homes with activities coordinators or for the housebound
Advice on ‘How to conduct a funeral at home’ – a template service for lockdown funerals
