Empowering Residents Through
Function-Focused Care
In nursing homes, supporting residents’ independence and participation in daily life is key to their overall wellbeing. Function-focused care (FFC) is an approach that encourages residents to actively engage in their own care and everyday activities, rather than having tasks done *for* them. This can include anything from walking to the dining room, assisting with dressing, or participating in simple household tasks. FFC is about more than physical activity—it’s about choice, autonomy, and empowerment. When residents are encouraged to do what they can, at their own pace, they maintain mobility, strength, and confidence. Even small actions, like pouring a cup of tea or folding laundry, become opportunities for engagement and a sense of purpose. For staff, implementing FFC requires training, creativity, and a shift in mindset. Caregivers move from being task-oriented to facilitators, looking for ways to involve residents safely in everyday routines. This approach fosters meaningful interactions, strengthens relationships, and helps residents feel valued and in control of their daily lives.
Empowering residents through function-focused care also benefits the wider community in a nursing home. Active participation can reduce feelings of dependency and social isolation, while promoting mental stimulation and emotional wellbeing. By embedding FFC principles into routine care, nursing homes can create an environment where independence, dignity, and choice are central. Function-focused care reminds us that every resident has abilities worth nurturing. By focusing on what residents *can do* rather than what they cannot, care teams help transform daily routines into moments of empowerment, engagement, and wellbeing.
Until next time
Liz
*Based on:* Resnick B, Galik E, Boltz M. Function focused care approaches: Literature review of progress and future possibilities. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2013;14(5):313–318.
In nursing homes, supporting residents’ independence and participation in daily life is key to their overall wellbeing. Function-focused care (FFC) is an approach that encourages residents to actively engage in their own care and everyday activities, rather than having tasks done *for* them. This can include anything from walking to the dining room, assisting with dressing, or participating in simple household tasks. FFC is about more than physical activity—it’s about choice, autonomy, and empowerment. When residents are encouraged to do what they can, at their own pace, they maintain mobility, strength, and confidence. Even small actions, like pouring a cup of tea or folding laundry, become opportunities for engagement and a sense of purpose. For staff, implementing FFC requires training, creativity, and a shift in mindset. Caregivers move from being task-oriented to facilitators, looking for ways to involve residents safely in everyday routines. This approach fosters meaningful interactions, strengthens relationships, and helps residents feel valued and in control of their daily lives.
Empowering residents through function-focused care also benefits the wider community in a nursing home. Active participation can reduce feelings of dependency and social isolation, while promoting mental stimulation and emotional wellbeing. By embedding FFC principles into routine care, nursing homes can create an environment where independence, dignity, and choice are central. Function-focused care reminds us that every resident has abilities worth nurturing. By focusing on what residents *can do* rather than what they cannot, care teams help transform daily routines into moments of empowerment, engagement, and wellbeing.
Until next time
Liz
*Based on:* Resnick B, Galik E, Boltz M. Function focused care approaches: Literature review of progress and future possibilities. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2013;14(5):313–318.
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