My Home Life

My Home Life has worked with over 60 academic researchers from universities across the UK to develop the evidence base for quality of life in care homes (National Care Homes Research & Development Forum, 2007).

The review of evidence explored ‘what residents want from care homes’ and ‘what practices work in care homes’.

About Us

Find out how it started and learn about the core work of My Home Life Northern Ireland.

Programme

My Home Life Northern Ireland (MHLNI) aims to improve the quality of life for people living, dying, visiting and working...

Quality Improvement

The My Home Life movement embraces the opportunity to support each other and to share resources and examples of good...

Impact

Find out how the My Home Life programme has been making an impact in Northern Ireland:

News & Events

My Home News & Life events.

Contact

Contact information for the my homelife team. You can contact us directly or via our social media channels.

Developing Positive Practice

My Home Life principles are underpinned by an evidence base.

Research on what older people value and what works in care homes and other care settings identifies 8 important themes. The first 3 themes are focussed on how to Individualise and Personalise Care (Personalisaton Themes). The next 3 themes are concernd with how to support people navigate through the journey of care (Navigation Themes). The last 2 themes help staff but the other 6 themes into practice (Transformation Themes).

These evidence-based themes are derived from research on quality of life, quality of care and quality of leadership. Importantly, they integrate learning from health, social care and housing.

Thousands of care home practitioners are now using this conceptual framework approach to enhance quality of life to support their practice for residents, relatives and staff.

Maintaining Identity

Working creatively with residents to maintain their sense of personal identity and engage in meaningful activity.

Sharing Decision-making

Facilitating informed risk-taking and the involvement of residents, relatives and staff in shared decision-making in all aspects of home life.

Creating Community

Optimising relationships between and across staff, residents, family, friends and the wider local community.

Encouraging a sense of security, continuity, belonging, purpose, achievement and significance for all.

Facilitating Transitions

Supporting people both to manage the loss and upheaval associated with going into a home and help them to move forward.

Improving Health and Healthcare

Ensuring adequate access to healthcare services and promoting health to optimise residents’ quality of life.

Supporting Good End of Life

Valuing the ‘living’ and ‘dying’ in care homes and helping residents to prepare for a ‘good death’ with the support of their families.

Developing the Workforce

Identifying and meeting ever-changing training needs within the care home workforce.

Promoting a Positive Culture

Developing leadership, management and expertise to deliver a culture of care where care homes are seen as a positive option.

What Care Home Managers Say

"My Home Life recognises the very valuable work that care home sector provides"

“This Programme has had a life-changing impact on me. I had been dealing with stress for a long time, but through it I have become more self-aware. Learning from others in the group has been incredibly valuable. I now feel much calmer and more confident, and it has positively transformed both my professional and personal life”

“The peer support in the group was incredible. Everyone had similar stories. I can relax and be myself in this group”