MHA: Changing the way people view and treat each other

Source: Healthcare Digital

Date :01/10/2008 00:00:00

A charity providing care homes, housing and support services for older people throughout Britain, MHA is helping to improve the lives of over 12,500 people.

Written by Ian Armitage and Produced by Paul Radbourne

There is no question that caring for the elderly can be challenging, but one charity, by the name of MHA, has not only taken the difficult task, it has revolutionised the way people view and treat each other.

Established 65 years ago, MHA – or Methodist Homes for the Aged – delivers a range of services, including care homes, housing and support services, to over 12,500 individuals.

“We are a charity striving to combine professional standards, good governance and financial sustainability in providing older people with a caring service based on Christian principles,” explains the charity. “It is this unique combination which makes us special.

“MHA’s service is compassionate and respectful, well-managed and professional, and nurtures spiritual and physical well-being. Our mission, based on our Methodist heritage, is to improve the quality of life for older people.

“We continue to have strong support from the Methodist Church in particular and many volunteers work with us for this reason,” says the charity.

MHA is open to all older people in need, irrespective of their beliefs. Indeed, it is this that makes it truly special: “We will strive for excellence in everything we do, will meet everyone’s needs: spiritual and other, and will respect every person as an individual. We treat others with the dignity we wish for ourselves and encourage personal growth and development.

“A special feature of our homes and schemes is the emphasis placed on the spiritual well-being of older people. We believe this is integral to the service we provide. We respect the personal beliefs of each individual, and the choice of older people to participate, or not, in activities and events within the home or scheme.

“It is important that all our staff, volunteers and those we serve understand and share our values in order to play their part in building a community,” the charity continues.

The charity isn’t keen on forgetting the role of volunteers either:

“Among those supporting MHA during the past year have been sponsored athletes, a group of students who volunteered with Burntwood Live at Home scheme and a 95-year-old marmalade maker.

CHAPLAIN: A VITAL POSITION

Every MHA care home and housing scheme is supported by a dedicated Chaplain, who provides a “listening presence” and “one-to-one pastoral support” for all residents and staff.

“For many residents,” says the charity, “MHA will provide them with their last home. Chaplaincy provision is, therefore, important in order to help residents come to a sense of peace and fulfilment. This requires time, skills of active listening and reflection. We are recruiting employed chaplains to work alongside our volunteer Chaplains.

“Our Chaplains come from a range of denominations. Some are ordained ministers and others are lay people. Chaplains help to lead regular acts of worship. Where appropriate, residents are encouraged to maintain links with local faith communities,” it adds.

Spirituality is very important toMHA, which will get to know each person, their family, life story and interests.

“Spiritual fulfilment feels different for each individual. Religious faith, good relationships, and positive experiences all play their part. We see the beneficial effects of visits by family and friends, the presence of animals, and in engagement with nature, music, art or other creative activities.”

THE FINAL LAP

A key part of MHA’s work has been the development of “The Final Lap”, a programme designed to ensure that MHA homes are places where “dying and death are faced openly and positively”.

“Our strategy recognises that we are living in an ageing society, with rising dementia and care needs,” the charity says. “As the ninth largest care provider and third largest non-profit provider, our strategy to 2010 is to continue MHA values, provide a person-centred service, encourage volunteers and supporters, service older people with and without their own resources, offer housing and care expertise, and properly manage significant growth,” says MHA

“We are planning to increase the number of care home places by 23 percent by 2010, establish potential for extension, and focus particularly on dementia care, modern residential care, partnerships and urban locations.

“We will also increase the number of housing places by 36 percent by 2010, offer cleaning, shopping, catering and care services, develop plans for new housing with care schemes for sale, and for rent where grants are available.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MHA

It certainly has its hands full, but MHA determined to continually provide a quality service for older people in need.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of MHA’s foundation, but 2008 is a milestone for another reason too - MHA now provides housing, care and support for an additional 500 older people. “We have continued our provision of community services, enabling 8,000 people to continue living in their own homes, and piloted a Home Care Service for people with dementia in Bradford. As part of our policy of encouraging other volunteer-led community groups, a grant was also made to support a Live at Home-style initiative in London.”