Barbara Lawson, Sheri Kerr and Marie Paterson (Chief Inspector for Adults Regulation at Care Inspectorate) discuss the values of connection and how the inspection process and ways of working support this.

Useful links:

Care Inspectorate - Meaningful connection webpage 

Meaningful connection - Self-evaluation tool

The Hub - Improvement support section

The Hub - A quality framework for care homes for adults and older people  

Scottish Government - Open with Care  

New Health and Social Care Standards 

Webinar on family carers as partners in care 

Factsheet to accompany webinar on family carers as partners in care

Sheri Kerr is joined by Catharine Fletcher, who is a family carer and Care Inspectorate volunteer. Catharine shares her experiences and gives her views on what is important.  

Useful links:

Care Inspectorate - Meaningful connection webpage 

Barbara Lawson and Sheri Kerr discuss the importance of person-centred personal planning and how this can support meaningful connection. 

Useful links:

The Hub - Health and Social Care Standards 

The Hub - Guide for providers on personal planning for adults 

The Hub - A quality framework for care homes for adults and older people

Care Inspectorate - Come on in 

Mental Welfare Commission - Rights, risks, and limits to freedom

Barbara Lawson, and Ken Graham who moved into Glennie House Care Home during the pandemic. He shares his story and what is important to him to remain active as someone living in a care home.  

Useful links:

Guide for providers on personal planning 

The Hub - Care about physical activity

Barbara Lawson and Louise Kelly from the Care About Physical Activity (CAPA) project discuss the importance of getting out and about to support wellbeing and connection. They explore ways to connect with nature, becoming aware of the seasons, the benefits of bringing the outside into the care home and including intergenerational opportunities.  

Useful links:

Care Inspectorate - Care about Physical Activity 

Trellis Scotland

Paths for All 

Barbara Lawson and Jenny Karimlar manager from Glennie House Care Home, explore death and dying and how services can support people living in care homes with the loss of a peer.  

Useful links: 

Guide for providers on personal planning for adults 

Anticipatory care planning guidance 

Barbara Lawson and Sheri Kerr look at what research tells us about positive peer relationships in care homes, how services can create a culture of connection to enable friendships through intentional practices, such as know your neighbour, lounge and meal experiences, and how some barriers can be overcome through thoughtful personal planning and consideration.  

Useful links: 

Care Inspectorate - Meaningful connection webpage

Meaningful connection - Literature review

Meaningful connection - Engagement report

Webinar on positive peer relationships 

Factsheet to accompany webinar on positive peer relationships

The Kings Fund - Is your care home dementia friendly?  

Health and Social Care Standards 

Guide for providers on personal planning for adults

Barbara Lawson and Dr Edel Roddy, My Home Life Facilitator, explore how meaningful connection can be enhanced by recognising opportunities to be present with someone, how connection can be enhanced for people living with advanced dementia.  

Tools and resources can help people recognise everyday opportunities to be present and capture the moment of connection and emotion. 

Useful links:

My Home Life Charity resources 

My Home Life Charity - A place in the fun 

My Home Life Charity - lingo of connection 

My Home Life Charity - rights made real 

Hearts and Minds 

Namaste Care 

New Health and Social Care Standards for care homes 

Care Inspectorate - Come on in 

Barbara Lawson speaks with Andrea Wyllie (CEO of Greenock Medical Aid Society) to find out how visiting was introduced and supported during the pandemic. Andrea shares the background to the human rights-based approach that influenced and ultimately supported all care homes to enable safe visiting during this time of crisis.  

Useful links:

New Health and Social Care Standards for care homes 

Scottish care home team’s efforts to bring loved ones together during pandemic wins nursing accolade (qnis.org.uk) 

Open with Care: supporting meaningful contact in adult care homes – principles 

Sheri Kerr and Cathy Asante (Scottish Human Rights Commission) discuss the importance of a human rights-based approach and how this can support meaningful connection for people who live in care homes. 

Useful links:

Scottish Human Rights website 

Scottish Human Rights - Care about Rights 

European Convention on Human Rights 

Human Rights Act 1998 

Webinar - A human rights based approach including the Health and Social Care Standards 

Factsheet to accompany webinar on A human rights based approach including the Health and Social Care Standards 

Scottish Human Rights - Human Rights Based Approach 

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

Human Rights Bill Scotland consultation