CAPA improvement programme update October 2017
The CAPA project is really making a difference and helping older people to move more and more often – improving health, happiness and social interaction. Our October update highlights just some of the fantastic work happening across the country.
CONNECTING OLD AND YOUNG
Laura Haggarty, Improvement Adviser, East Ayrshire told us how an intergenerational project between Gargieston Early Childhood Centre and Howard House Care Home in Kilmarnock is increasing movement, purpose, engagement and enjoyment in life.
Laura explains: “I approached the nursery and care home who were really keen to make it happen. Children were introduced to the residents in the first session and looked through
story books. There was some anxiety among staff around risk and logistics, however the session was positive, powerful and heartwarming. And it naturally encouraged movement
as the older people connected and interacted with the children. One child connected with an anxious resident who struggles to engage and staff were overwhelmed to see her welcome the child with open arms and read a story. Staff say this resident looks forward to Thursday afternoons and regularly talks about the childrens visits.”
Future sessions will include arts and crafts, songs and nursery rhymes and the children will also bring one of their favourite toys in and talk to residents about why their toy is special to
them. Laura will gather data. She hopes to capture the residents’ self efficacy, quality of life and physical fitness data. She also hopes to demonstrate how these weekly sessions impact positively on both generations and encourge other homes and nurseries to set up similar projects to build specials bonds and bridge the gap between generations.
Perth and Kinross Lead: Carolyn Wilson
There are two CAPA workstreams running in Perth and Kinross – one for care homes and one for care at home services. We spoke to Carolyn Wilson about progress being made in the care at home services involved in the project. She said: “Increasing our level of physical activity has tremendous benefits no matter what stage we are at in life and the CAPA
improvement programme has the ability to transform how services are delivered as well as impact positively on all the people taking part. Within the care at home/day care/sheltered housing workstream we have seen small but significant changes taking place and clients encouraged and supported to do more for themselves in a fun and meaningful way. Staff education and participation has been key to this and some services have been educating staff and motivating them to exercise more so they practise what they preach when empowering their clients to do likewise.” We spoke to Una Tennant, Daycare and Respite Coordinator from Hope House, Blairgowrie who explained that they were running a project to make morning and afternoon tea-time more active for their daycare clients. Una said: “We care for people with dementia. We asked Mrs Irene Benkin what she would like to do to get more active and she told us that she’d like to clear the table dishes and help to wash and dry them. Afterwards she asked “Can I do something else to help, I’m enjoying this, it’s much better than before”. So we’re keeping this going and hope to see further improvements for Mrs Benkin and our other clients.”
To read the full newsletter and to find out about next CAPA events please see the document attached below.