Help Care Homes recover from COVID with activities

Aim

Our online platform will allow those in Care Homes, to remain active through a mix of physical and mental exercise content.

Why are we are we doing this?

We want to make exercise and activity available for those who need it most.

We are a not for profit Community Interest Company, and we will reach those parts of society who need our help the most. 

COVID Impact

COVID 19 has hit these cohorts especially hard, as in a recent Sport England Active Lives survey there are now 3.4 million less people being active than pre-March 2020.

Those aged 55+ have also been hard hit, as a large proportion have had to self isolate or shield, and now 50% are classed as inactive. However, in the same survey they noted an increase in enjoyment of being active, which shows that purely lack of opportunity is a key element of their inactivity.

Research backs us up

In an Age UK survey, people, in particular care home residents, suffer increased levels of loneliness, anxiety, and stress during the pandemic, especially during lockdowns. This can have major consequences for a person’s health. One study has argued that it is as detrimental to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Depression affects 40% of older people in care homes according to Help the Aged.

Only 7% of adults over the age of 75 years meet the minimum required level of physical activity for health benefits (National Statistics, 2009)

Daytime activities are an unmet need for 76% of care home residents with dementia [Hancock et al, 2005]

Care home residents on average spend only two minutes a day participating in meaningful social interaction [Brooker, 2008]

In another recent Sport England survey, reducing physical inactivity can have significant impact both in terms of the reduction of risk of people getting diseases such as cancer, dementia, hypertension and obesity but also in the treatment and management of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, depression and many forms of cancer.

What will supporting this mean?

This project will bring the residents high quality exercise programs that can be easily followed and ensure they remain active, healthy, and show an improvement in mobility and quality of life. 

In addition to physical activities there will also be a mixture of quizzes, games and other options to look after the mental health side and ensure their brain also remains active.

FEEDBACK FROM CARE HOMES

This is feedback from some Care Homes who received a DVD we helped produce late in 2020:

"I am the activities coordinator and  have been in this role for 29 yrs. I deliver a range of exercises for our wonderful residents, and I would like to say a big thank you! Our residents have really  enjoyed these exercises, and are looking forward to lots more sessions in this way! so a big thank you from all our residents!" 

"I just wanted to let  you know that the DVD we received  for chair based exercises is  FAB !!! Our residents have dementia , in all differing stages, and have been enjoying the classes, as do the staff!  We are able to select appropriate exercises for individual groups depending on their abilities. Thank you so much."

"I am the area manager for a company that has 13 care homes for elderly persons. We received one of your DVDs through the post and the residents loved it and in current circumstances would love one of each of the homes."

Please support this initiative and make a difference to those who need our help the most, as we would happily look after our own Grandparents, so let's ensure everyone is looked after.

This project successfully funded on 20th November 2021