Entertaining residents isn’t child’s play

Bingo. A spot of telly. Maybe even a singsong for the lucky few. Or that’s the common misconception of activities in care homes. But having spoken to numerous experts over the last week it’s heartening to see the importance placed on stimulating entertainment.

Yet it wasn’t until I spoke to Sheila Searle – a woman seemingly obsessed in her desire to change care home activities – that the passion of the dedicated activity coordinators became obvious.

Disillusioned by the lack of support, resources, time and poor pay, Sheila gave up her role as an activities co-ordinator in a Buxton care home to set up inspiritbuxton. An online resource for activity coordinators it combines best practice, hints and tips and lots of ideas for activity staff as they aim to improve the service they offer to their clients. It’s a great idea, and should prove to be very successful.

But activity staff are at the coalface of an industry in flux – and are the first to find their services slashed come budget cuts. The result is fewer resources and less time to plan an effective activity programme that stimulates all of the senses.

Having visited a number of care homes now, it’s apparent to me just how hard-working and under-valued activity staff are. They’re the unsung heroes in the care homes. Their work isn’t ‘necessary’ like health or nursing care, nor does it enable the homes to run effectively, like the administrators.

Yet they have more interaction with the residents than anybody else. They’re the ones who make them smile, or challenge them to tr something new, and they’re the ones who break up the monotony and ensure residents aren’t force-fed ‘Cash in the Attic’ day after day.

However, in this world of profit-driven care it’s easy for companies to look over this devotion when the balance-sheet must be pleasing on the eye.

There will be more information on Sheila’s story and inspiritbuxton on Bettercaring shortly.