Building bonds and enriching lives with Stop the Clock initiative at Aria Court in March

A care home’s new initiative called ‘Stop the Clock’ is bringing the team and residents closer together.

The programme was introduced at Aria Court Care Home in March a month ago and encourages all team members to dedicate protected time to spend with the residents, with the aim of fostering a stronger sense of community and personal connection.

Aria Court’s says the initiative is part of its commitment to a holistic, whole-home approach to care, ensuring that every resident feels valued and engaged.

Every Friday at 2.45pm, the entire home comes to a brief but meaningful halt.

For 15 minutes, every team member, from the kitchen staff, maintenance, and carers to the admin team and the home manager, steps away from their usual tasks to spend quality time with a resident or a small group of residents.

They say 15 minutes might seem short, but claim it’s enough time to make a significant impact.

During these moments residents can engage in various activities such as singing, chatting, walking around the garden, playing games, or even enjoying a mini massage with a team member.

This dedicated time, which can be with a member of the Aria Court team they do not usually spend a lot of time with, allows for the formation of bonds and helps residents feel valued.

The feedback from residents so far has been overwhelmingly positive, said home manager Jo Monaghan who added that residents have told her they particularly enjoy the opportunity to interact with members of the team they don’t usually get to see for a chat, like the kitchen staff, gardener, office staff, or the home manager.

This interaction helps break down barriers and fosters a sense of unity and mutual respect within the home.

Jo said: “Team members, too, find great value in this initiative.

“I get out into the home as much as I can every day, but this is a nice opportunity to take a break and spend some time with a resident.”

As the Stop the Clock initiative continues to gain momentum, there is hope to expand it to more days of the week.

Both residents and the team are starting to look forward to this special part of the day, indicating the success and potential for further growth of the initiative.