Temporary respite breaks offer elderly residents professional and personal support at DomusVi Ciudad de Murcia
DomusVi Ciudad de Murcia, a home from home with wellbeing guaranteed from the very first day
Caring for an elderly relative, neighbour or friend is a great test of the dedication of those upon whom the duty falls, and often they become so engrossed with the day-to-day needs of the person concerned that they overlook how important it is for them to take a break and recover from the constant tiredness and effort of what they do. For this reason, temporary respite breaks in residences for the elderly are the perfect solution, made to measure to support families at difficult times and adapted to suit situations such as family holidays, moving house or having work done, convalescence, trips abroad and any unforeseen circumstance.
These respite breaks are especially useful at this time of year when families are most likely planning to get away for a week or two – or maybe more – and desperately need to switch off, rest and look after themselves rather than others!
The temporary residence plans are designed to provide relief at times when carers are simply overburdened and provide a guarantee that their loved relative is receiving professional attention in a welcoming and safe environment. In the words of Cristina Pastor, the director of the DomusVi Ciudad de Murcia residence, they are also “an ideal opportunity to gain a first experience of the service of a residence, understand how it works and see what it offers both to the elderly and to their families”.
Rest, support and wellbeing
Short-stay residence programs allow a balance to be struck between the need for care and the need for a break in a manner which is both professional and personal. The aim is to allow families to remain stable without the temporary resident feeling that there is any lowering of the level of care he or she is receiving on a day-to-day basis.
All of the centres run by the DomusVi group throughout Spain, some of which have been open now for more than 30 years, have become second homes in which the residents are looked after by professional staff and receive care which is designed with their holistic wellbeing in mind – a refuge, where they enjoy intimacy, sharing the daily routine and constant companionship.
Giving and receiving care
A temporary change of routine can actually be especially beneficial for an elderly person, as they get to spend time with people of similar interests and similar age and find chances to engage in stimulating activities, all in a social environment which takes them out of their usual routine. In this way they feel less lonely and more active.
Suddenly, they can socialize, change up their routine and become more independent, while always accompanied by professional carers who offer individualized attention (when appropriate), personally adapted therapy programs and fun activities, often using modern technology, which enhance their skills and abilities.
Thanks to this alternative, the usual carer or carers can take a rest with the peace of mind of knowing that their relative is in good hands. To ensure that this is the case there is constant communication between the residence and the family and the doors are always open to visitors, whether they just want to pop in and say hello or take part in the daily activities programmed.
Individualized care plans
One of the fundamental elements at the core of the DomusVi philosophy is the need to provide a completely individual, made-to-measure care plan, and for this reason the very first thing is to carry out an initial evaluation of each resident. This includes physical and cognitive appraisal and makes it possible to design the individualized care plan.
Compiling this plan is the job of a multi-disciplinary team at each centre, weighing up the needs and preferences of each person to adapt the therapy and activities offered to them. Every detail is looked after from the very first day, from the moment they arrive, including diet and hygiene routines.
In this way, those spending a short period in the residence enjoy the same level of care as the permanent residents. Their activities are closely monitored to ensure that it is easy for them to adapt and that they enjoy an enriching time in the centre, with the main aim being that they enjoy their time at DomusVi while knowing that their physical and emotional wellbeing is looked after.
Además, las personas residentes pueden beneficiarse de todos los servicios que ofrece la residencia relacionados con la salud y el bienestar como son la peluquería, podología o fisioterapia. Una estancia que se adapta completamente a las necesidades familiares ya que su duración puede variar, desde tan solo unos días hasta varios meses, en función del tiempo que necesite el cuidador. Explica Pastor que “las instalaciones, equipamientos, terapias y servicios tienen un único objetivo que es proporcionar el máximo bienestar a las personas que cuidamos”.
Person.centred attention
At DomusVi, the person is the key. The whole model of the care provided is based in getting to know the resident, whether temporary or permanent, in depth: their life story, their tastes, their preferences, their values…
This approach takes into account the decisions and routines of the elderly: “we look after people with respect for them, offering company, security and trust”, as Cristian Pastor says. “Everything is thought out and designed so that the person feels at home and treats this experience as an opportunity to find wellbeing and renewal”.
DomusVi Ciudad de Murcia
Avenida de la Justicia, 18, Murcia. Telephone 868 007400
A centre with all the necessary modern facilities and resources, natural light in all rooms, a large garden, patios and terraces. Personal and friendly treatment guaranteed, professional, qualified and committed staff.
DomusVi is one of the longest-established and largest care home networks in Spain, having been offering top class facilities to residents for over 30 years and currently looking after more than 34,000 people either temporarily or on a permanent basis all over the country.
Each of their residences is designed, equipped and staffed in such a way as to guarantee comfortable and tranquil stays for residents, with personalized attention leading them to enjoy an active and sociable environment in what they soon consider to be their home.
The care offered at DomusVi nursing homes is comprehensive. This sense of emotional wellbeing is backed up by the guarantee of physical wellbeing, with safety, security and medical care being given the utmost importance. Therapies and activities are scheduled both to promote autonomy and the maintenance of the person’s abilities and to improve their physical and emotional state. This is possible thanks to the committed and dedicated professional teams who work on it.
That they can offer this personalized attention from the very first day is due to the thorough initial assessment of each new resident before their arrival, taking into account not only their physical needs but also their personal preferences, from hobbies to eating habits. Once residents see that they are treated in this way, they quickly adapt to the friendly family environment – this fact makes it possible for them to feel at home but with added comforts and luxuries such as a hairdresser, a swimming pool and a wider social circle!
The new DomusVi centre in the city of Murcia is located right opposite the “Palacio de Justicia” (the modern provincial court building) in one of the most attractive parts of the city, and with views looking out towards the mountains and the countryside of the “Huerta”. It’s location close to the inner and outer ring roads on the eastern side of the city make it easily accessible by car, and parking is generally easy close by, making it easy for visitors to pop in and visit their loved ones.
And at all DomusVi centres there are staff who speak English!
