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Welcome once again all our rubbish followers!
Practice makes perfect and in the case of care homes, it is green practices that could make the perfect setting for you and your residents.
In this blog, we're spilling the tea on simple green practices to introduce into your care home. From energy-efficient innovations to eco-friendly activities, join us on a journey where sustainability meets senior care.
Get ready to discover how a touch of green can transform the way we age.
Let's dive into a world where caring for our residents also means caring for the planet.
You may be keen on implementing some fresh and new practices into your care home, only to find that the path to becoming more eco-friendly is lined with challenges. Care homes, like any other business will encounter unique obstacles that require thoughtful consideration and strategic planning to overcome.
Here are some challenges that you may face when introducing greener practices into your care home:
Limited Budgets: Money is king...and just like any other institution, careful planning is needed and many hurdles will have to be jumped to be able to get the funding to make the necessary changes. It's like finding the perfect balance between making the upfront investment for a greener future and reaping the long-term benefits. Planning becomes crucial in ensuring that we create spaces that are not only sustainable but also make financial sense. This will be the hardest challenge that you have to overcome. Works with your care home operators to set up a sustainability strategy.
Waste Management: You may be thinking, look at these lot plugging waste management again, we get it, you are in the industry, however, getting your waste management under control and organised is a challenge to overcome before you can create greener ways to reduce that waste. Once you have a clear, concise plan for your waste, then you can find ways to improve your environmental impact.
Staff Training: Embracing green practices in care homes requires a whole new mindset among the staff. It's important to provide top-notch training and awareness programs so that employees not only get why sustainability is so important, but also have the know-how to actually make it happen. Adequate training and awareness programs become crucial.
Family Expectations: It's crucial to be crystal clear and totally upfront about the perks of going green in order to get everyone on board – residents, staff, and families included. If you don't nail down some killer communication and marketing tactics, you might just miss the mark when it comes to showing off the true value and importance of your care home sustainability programme.
Technology Issues: Introducing a new solution may mean purchasing new smart solutions or energy-efficient tech. Implementing this may mean you face resistance from care home operators or your staff. New technology costs money, time and energy, so making sure that you really push the benefits can help overcome the challenges. Show your bosses the profit or money that can be saved & demonstrate to your staff the time they will save. More money & more time....who says no!
Engaging the community: Create ways of engaging your community and introducing them to your new practices. Run workshops, host open days where the community can come and see your green efforts. Look to introduce community partnerships, for instance, work alongside your local schools to educate.
Follow some of our tips below to help your reduce your waste and make your care home get on the right tracks to be the ultimate benchmark for sustainability in care. These simple changes can help to reduce stress & time in the healthcare sector.
Implement a Comprehensive Recycling Program: Set up designated recycling bins for paper, plastic, food, and other recyclable materials throughout the care home. Clearly label bins with easy-to-understand signage to encourage proper sorting.
Educate Staff and Residents: Conduct regular workshops or training sessions to educate both staff and residents on the importance of recycling and waste reduction. Provide guidelines or posters on what can and cannot be recycled.
Reduce Single-Use Items: Minimise the use of single-use items such as disposable cups, plates, and cutlery. Go for reusable alternatives to reduce overall waste generation.
Smart Purchasing Practices: Get savvy with your shopping. Opt for products with minimal packaging and show those single-use items the exit. It's all about mindful choices.
Upcycling and Repurposing: Forget tossing out old furniture. Give them a makeover! It's DIY time, and your furniture is ready for its red-carpet moment with a fresh new look.
Reuse Containers and Packaging: Disposable? Nah. Reusable is the way to go. Ditch the throwaway mentality and embrace items that stand the test of time.
Implement a "Zero-Waste" Challenge: Organise friendly competitions between staff members to get the best out of your zero-waste push.
Monitor Waste Trends: Time to get investigative. What's trending in your trash? Conduct a waste audit and discover the unsung heroes and villains in your daily disposal.
Promote Second-Hand Shopping: Encourage staff and residents to donate or purchase second-hand items instead of always buying new!
Host Recycling Drives: Organise recycling drives where staff and residents can bring in specific items (electronics, textiles, etc.) for proper recycling. Collaborate with local recycling facilities for disposal.
By following these steps, your social care setting can create a more eco way of working, which not only benefits your staff, and owners, but your resident's health and well-being. Sustainable practices not only improves your health and social care setting, but, the impact on the environment and your community can not be understated.
Creating vibrant gardens and green spaces in care homes can have a profound impact on the well-being of residents. Here are some tips and ideas for introducing green spaces and fostering a love for gardening in your care sector:
Accessible Raised Beds: We aren't talking about wheeling their beds outside and giving a new meaning to them soiling their bed. Install raised beds at a height that will allow your residents to garden without the need for bending or kneeling?
Sensory Gardens: Introduce flowers, textured plants or wind chimes to create a sensory garden. This is ideal for residents with any cognitive impairment.
Garden Seating and Rest Areas: Install comfortable seating and shaded areas throughout the garden to encourage residents to relax and enjoy the green surroundings. This can also serve as a gathering spot for social activities.
Accessible Pathways: Ensure that your pathways are smooth, wide and wheelchair-accessible. Well maintained paths enable residents to navigate the garden easier.
Bird Feeders and Baths: Birdwatching can be a calming and enjoyable activity for residents. Incorporating bird feeders and baths into your garden can attract local wildlife.
Garden Club: First rule of garden club, you talk about garden club! We aren't suggesting having a weekly fist fight in a ring full of roses. Create a garden club that brings all your residents who have a passion for gardening together! This creates a new sense of purpose and social-ability
With these gardening and green space concepts, care homes can create a tranquil, interactive, and nature-loving atmosphere for their residents.
You may be thinking, what has local and organic food have to do with care homes? Well, by introducing organic and locally sourced food into your UK care home, you are contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly dining experience.
Here are some benefits of using more locally grown and organic foods in your social care system:
Food Safety and Transparency: Organic foods come with strict standards to ensure that the food is producing without any harmful chemicals. A certification is provided with this. This commitment to food safety and transparency can instil trust with the residents families.
Environmental Impact: By using organic foods, you are reducing the amount of pesticides and fertilisers used, as organic food typically involves less.
Supporting Local Farmers: Your local farmers will thank you! Taking on a local farmers services, creates a sense of community and strengthens your local economy.
Food Quality: These foods are often fresher and store more nutrients compared to foods that travel a long distance, This improves your residents health and wellbeing.
Food Miles: We all know the price of mileage. Now imagine the amount of miles some foods will travel! Choosing local produce reduces the distance that food travels from farm to table. Reducing carbon emissions and gas emissions.
Partnerships with Local Suppliers: Establishing a direct relationship ensures a reliable supply of fresh and high quality foods, all whilst creating communities and a more sustainable food cycle.
No matter if it is your food, your setting, or your energy consumption, there are plenty of opportunities to reduce your carbon footprint and discover a more cost-effective & energy efficient way of working.
Care England UK: This charity provides resources and guidance to care homes big & small!
Website: https://www.careengland.org.uk/
Social Care Institute for Excellence: On this website you can find a one stop shop to all things care homes.
Website: https://www.scie.org.uk/
Care Provider Alliance: On here, you get access to various guidance to help you create a more sustainable setting.
Website: https://careprovideralliance.org.uk/
We recognise the responsibilities that come with managing a care home. Between ensuring the well-being and happiness of residents, managing daily schedules, and overseeing various aspects of care, your plate is always full. We understand that sleepless nights and concerns for residents' health are already significant challenges – the last thing you need is waste management adding to the stress.
That's where we step in to make things a bit easier for you.
We aim to take the worry out of waste, allowing you to focus on what matters most – providing exceptional care and creating a comfortable, nurturing environment for your residents.
Here are a few reasons why you should use us for your recycling and waste management:
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