BUSINESS WEST – CONNECTING BUSINESSES inspire CASE STUDY
Improving mental health in care homes
New Chamber member Alive shares a case study on how they have overcome loneliness and depression in care homes.
Alive deliver activity sessions and training for care staff. They also deliver intergenerational projects, which this case study focuses on.
Challenges More than 400,000 older people currently live in care homes, a figure set to increase given the UK's ageing population. While many older people in care homes are well looked after, depression and loneliness, are common. For many older residents in care homes, lack
of activities is cited as the main reason for their dissatisfaction with the care they receive. (NICE website 2019). Care staff are often overstretched and lack
the capacity and time to develop activities that engage the community. Transport, training and lack of knowledge were reported to us as key barriers to community engagement. Staff and residents told us that they wanted to connect with their community, and that they wanted to spend time with younger people/children.
Solutions Since 2012, Alive’s intergenerational work has been bringing communities and generations together, improving the happiness and wellbeing of care home residents by increasing their social interaction with younger people. We have seen time and time again the
benefits of these initiatives; a visit from children lifts the spirits of residents, improving mental health and bringing happiness. The age range of those involved stretches
from eight to 101, over half the residents are living with dementia and/or complex physical disabilities. Alive’s intergenerational work consists of multiple projects which involve everything from gardening, painting, photography and clay work to using iPads to make videos. The charity has set up partnerships between care homes and schools, scouts, nurseries, and local youth groups.
Results Between 2017-18 alone, Alive helped build sustainable relationships connecting 141 community groups with 87 local care settings across four counties through ground-breaking community engagement projects, and 891 older people were actively engaged. Approximately two members of staff from each care setting engaged in the projects, benefitting 174 care staff/managers. After experiencing her first Alive intergenerational session a care home resident called Violet said: “This is better than a Christmas day. This is the happiest I’ve been in ages”. “I’m so proud of my new skills,” said another 96-year-old resident.
Children’s visits lift residents’ moods
In the Care Staff Survey, 100% of staff reported that the activity session lifted the mood of residents (96.43% gave the sessions the highest rating for impact to mood). One- hundred per cent of staff reported that the activity session(s) have a positive effect on the general atmosphere (82.14% of staff reported a significant effect, giving it the highest rating for impact on atmosphere).
Why they joined the Chamber “We joined the Chamber based on recommendation, and so that Alive can extend our networks/awareness or our work into the business community across the region. We have found the help, guidance and advice received excellent,” Jennie Reed, Alive.
FACTFILE COMPANY: Alive LOCATION: Bristol
WHAT WE DO: Alive is the UK’s leading charity enriching the lives of older people in care and training their carers.
HISTORY: Founded in 2009, Alive’s vision is a world where older people live lives full of joy, meaning and opportunity. The charity was set up by Tim Lloyd-Yeates, who sadly passed away in 2015. Tim’s experience of seeing his mother-in-law going in to a care home was the driving force behind his decision to found Alive. Alive currently employs 20 mostly part-time members of staff and 15 trained facilitators. The charity is dependent on voluntary donations.
VISIT:
www.aliveactivities.org NAME: Laura Ross
POSITION: Marketing executive and editor of InsightMagazine E:
laura.ross@
businesswest.co.uk T: 01275 376232
What does your role at Business
West involve? I work in the busy and vibrant marketing team promoting Chamber membership benefits and events through regular e- comms, social media & promotions. I am also editor of Insight magazine, the chamber’s bi-monthly magazine.
What were you doing before you
worked at Business West? I worked as an editor and travel writer, working across South America, India and Portugal. It was a tough job but my work trip to Peru and Machu Picchu was awesome!
What is the most unusual business
you’ve encountered? A quirky Italian hotel that you could only reach by donkey! It had its own diving platform into the crystal clear sea.
What is your top tip for anyone
starting out in business? Be positive and friendly to everyone you meet and make the effort to get out there and meet people.
What are your interests outside
work? I love going out with friends, running, sea swimming and finding wild places to stay in my campervan.
What did you want to be when you
were growing up? I wanted to be a professional showjumper.
MARCH/APRIL 2019 insight 15 INSIDER
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