Transitioning into a care home can be a stressful time, with personal belongings bringing a sense of comfort and security. Belongings can be misplaced in any shared space, including common items like slippers, electronics, sweaters, and hats. Being proactive is key to preventing belongings getting misplaced, especially in a care home setting.
Lost belongings can cause unnecessary confusion and discomfort, making it harder for residents to settle into their new space. Organising and labelling a resident’s belongings can help them maintain their personal identity, simplify their daily routine, and promote independent living.
We’re sharing five ways to prevent lost belongings in care homes with the help of our personalised name labels for residents and support workers.
1. Establish a “Belongings Checklist”
The easiest way to keep track of belongings is to create a checklist. Ideally, this should be done when a resident arrives at a care home, but it can be done at any stage.
Divide the belongings checklist into common categories, such as clothes, electronics, books, and personal items. The checklist can be reviewed during inspections and as a way of keeping track of which items are being cleaned or potentially need to be replaced, making it a helpful tool for relatives as well.
2. Labelling Belongings with Personalised Labels
Many care home residents have similar belongings, whether it’s the same black jumper or fluffy bathrobes from the same brand. Labelling personal items with the resident’s name is the easiest way to distinguish who owns them. Other residents and support workers can easily identify if an item has been returned to the wrong person and reduce the likelihood of it being lost.
Our customisable care home name labels are available as stickers, ideal for accessories, personal items, and medical equipment, while our iron-on labels prevent clothing from being misplaced during communal washing. Custom name labels can also be used for specific caregiving needs, such as adding an allergy alert or the contact number of their next of kin.
3. Hold “Lost and Found” Sessions
Items inevitably get misplaced, even with checklists and the best intentions. Holding regular ‘lost and found’ sessions allow staff and residents to ensure all belongings return to their rightful place. A checklist can make these sessions easier by giving an instant overview of which items aren’t accounted for in a resident’s room.
4. Organised Storage for Each Resident
Giving each resident organised storage can also minimise the risk of lost belongings by having a specific place for every item. These storage areas should be considered the resident’s dedicated space, whether it’s in their room or a shelf in a communal area. Only the resident, their relatives, or a designated support worker should be able to access these areas to prevent accidental misplacement.
5. Use Colour-Coded Storage
Colour-coded storage is an easy visual way to distinguish the owner of each item. Assigning a specific colour to each resident and using it for storage bins and drawers can reduce the risk of belongings getting misplaced, especially during room cleaning and laundry days.
You can coordinate the colour-coded storage by choosing the matching colour for personalised care home labels, making it even easier to sort laundry back into its rightful place. The colour association can also help other residents identify who owns an item, especially if their eyesight is poor.
Prevent Lost Belongings with Our Customisable Care Home Labels
Being proactive is key to preventing lost belongings in care homes. If you or a family member already lives in a care home, it’s never too late to get organised. Our 5 tips for preventing lost belongings can be used in any shared space, from classrooms to independent living facilities.
At My Nametags, we work with care home residents, relatives, and support workers to create customised name labels that facilitate independent living and give added peace of mind. Design your personalised name labels today with free shipping and dozens of designs to choose from.
