Essex care home residents benefit from innovative Namaste Care programme

Ebury Court care home in Romford, Essex offers an innovative dementia care initiative to its residents in the form of The Namaste Care programme.

Devised in America, the programme was created by social worker, Professor Joyce Simard and was created for use in care homes to help residents living with advanced dementia who are unable to easily communicate their needs.

The Namaste Care programme was developed from the Hindu term ‘Namaste’, meaning ‘to honour the spirit within’. The programme encourages residents to engage through sensory activities, combining music, therapeutic touch, food, colour and scents.

Director of Ebury court, Richard Key, said: "The Namaste programme at Ebury Court has made a profound difference to the quality of life for people with significant dementia.

“The programme is a truly wonderful thing to be involved with, from directors and managers, right through all other members of staff. A programme we are all very proud to be a part of.”

The daily programme comprises of intensive sensory stimulation for residents living with severe dementia and has been created to help eliminate or reduce pain, urinary tract infections, as well reduce the use of anti-psychotic medication and improve the quality of life.

The sitting room at Ebury Court has been converted to include an old fashioned coal fireplace with a tile and wood mantle. The room has been designed to incorporate reminiscence objects, lighting and furnishings to create a safe and comfortable environment for the Namaste programme to take place.

During the first year of the programme, all residents who regularly participated in the initiative showed an improvement in their quality of life, the amount of pain medication being administered and the number of UTIs.

A study conducted by St Christopher’s Hospice and the South London and Maudsley Foundation Hospital Trust, revealed that the Namaste Care programmed reduced the severity and frequency of behaviour related symptoms in people living with dementia.

Family and friends of residents at Ebury Court spoke of their loved ones appearing happier and more relaxed since the Namaste Care programme began. Whilst one 87 year old resident who was diagnosed with dementia nine years ago and required full time care, was able to recall her daughter’s name for the first time in nearly a year.

Her daughter said: “The programme has lit a candle within Mum and has given all the family an enormous lift. We now feel that Mum is back with us and although at this stage of her life there will be no miracles, the current situation for her and us is so much better and makes what used to be a sad visit a very rewarding one.”