Bringing Friends Together

As we get older, we see less and less of our friends. Even before we move into a residential home. So when a new resident moves in, it’s hugely important that you make them feel welcomed and right at home. The process can be quite daunting for many but there are things that you can do to make the move a smooth one. Here we’ve put together some ideas and tips to help your residents to feel perfectly at home, no matter what their age or background.

1. Pop The Kettle On For Relaxed Introductions

A mass introduction can be hugely daunting to a new resident. A whole new environment with new people is a lot to take in. So when it comes to introductions, slowly ease them in with people they are most likely to have things in common with. A friendly natter over a cup of tea or a cup of coffee can be the perfect ice breaker no matter what your age.

If your lounge area has a couple of chairs together, introduce them to these chairs so they can get to know each other on a one-to-one basis. This can then form the start of their introductions to the rest of the residents.

2. Plan Some Friendly Group Activities

Over time, the new resident will start to talk to more and more people and begin to join in with activities around the home. This is a great time to do some getting to know you activities. Even if the others have taken part in these a number of times, it’s a great way to get them talking again. Add in some fun games or arts and crafts to make it a real hands-on activity.

3. Create a Welcoming Home From Home Environment

Before your new resident arrives, you want to ensure that their room is ready for them to move straight into. So checking all the furniture is in good condition with no broken pieces or sharp edges is key.

If you find that the furniture is no longer fit for purpose, you can take a look at our collections of bedroom furniture online. Every piece of furniture is designed to offer complete stability, which is important if you have a resident that is unsteady on their feet. We also have the Hockley Bedroom Furniture range for residents who are living with dementia. Forward-thinking, this range has been developed to help promote a safe and comfortable environment for your residents to feel at home in. The special features of open hanging space and scooped drawer fronts helps residents to live an independent life for as long as possible.

It’s also important to ensure that all soft furnishings are of the highest quality. At Hill and Hill we’re proud to offer a wide range of beautiful soft furnishings which are stylish and safe. All our soft furnishings, whether that be curtains or bedding, are made with high-quality, washable flame retardant fabrics and are made to order so that you can create a welcoming space for every resident.

4. New Chairs

In many homes, the lounge area has communal chairs, where you sit in any available chair you can find. However, homes are starting to look at the benefits of residents having their own chairs.

The biggest benefit to residents having their own chair is that the chair can then be adapted to suit the needs of that particular resident. Whether they need extra back support, the chair lowering, or heightening to allow their feet to be firmly on the floor. It also means that they have that sense of personal items around the home.

You can also opt to have a chair covered in material or design that suits that person’s style, just to give them a little more individuality. After all, no one wants all the chairs to look the same!

Contact Hill and Hill Today

For more information on any of our furniture, please do get in touch with a member of our friendly team today who will be happy to assist you. You can also check back to our blog regularly for more great ideas and information.