Follow us @tchemagazine
Follow our page on Linkedin
Alzheimer’s Society and Sport England partner with Social-Ability
The Alzheimer’s Society and Sport England are partnering with Social-Ability to revolutionise care for people living with dementia. The partnership will see the roll out of The Happiness Programme – a first-of-its-kind initiative that uses interactive technology to develop activities and games for care home residents. Initially, the partnership will begin in ten care homes nationwide and participants will be invited to test new activities co- designed with the Alzheimer’s Society and funded by Sport England. A survey of Happiness Programme users
showed that 98 per cent of care services experienced improvements in social and physical wellbeing, and 89 per cent saw improvement in cognitive wellbeing. Additionally, one in six care services observed fewer falls, and one in five saw improvements in nutrition and hydration for the people they support, as a result of increased activity levels. The Happiness Programme activities utilise interactive light technology, enabling users to engage in physically and mentally engaging games like popping bubbles, playing the piano, colouring pictures, and sweeping leaves. The programme can be enjoyed either independently or as a group activity, and
News
can feature props to elevate experiences and further increase range of motion. John Ramsay, managing director and co-founder of Social-Ability said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Alzheimer’s Society and Sport England to expand the Happiness Programme’s reach to those who truly need it. I founded Social-Ability to bring laughter and happiness to everyone facing dementia as well as for palliative care, rehabilitation, and those with learning disabilities. Working collaboratively is extremely important to us to grow the impact of Social-Ability, and we are honoured to be working alongside such a creative and experienced innovation team. We’re so excited to see the results of the
project – in 2024, nobody living with dementia should be without laughter or activity.” Simon Lord, head of innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “As we announce our partnership with Social-Ability, we’re excited to combine our trusted expertise in dementia and physical activity with the proven efficacy of the Happiness Programme, supported by funding from Sport England. Keeping active is hugely important for people with dementia and has a range of benefits such as improved quality of life. This partnership underscores our commitment to evidence-based practices, and we look forward to seeing the results of the new meaningful activities and the potential improved outcomes for people living with dementia.”
Elmfield Care pioneers Plastic Solution programme
Elmfield Care has announced the implementation of a new sustainability initiative – The Plastic Solution programme. The care home provider is implementing
the programme across all three of its facilities in Chippenham, Salisbury, and Lydney, becoming the first care home group in the UK to do so.
The Plastic Solution programme eliminates the use of single-use plastic containers for commercial cleaning products used in housekeeping, laundry, and kitchens. Previously, each Elmfield Care home generated an estimated 500-600 single-use plastic containers annually, which contributed to landfill waste or incineration. By switching to The Plastic
are collected and refilled at a dedicated filling plant, minimising plastic waste, and promoting a circular economy. Elmfield Care spokesperson Sharon
Kawonga said: “The Plastic Solution programme perfectly aligns with Elmfield Care’s commitment to sustainability. This programme not only benefits the environment but also offers significant operational advantages.”
Solution, Elmfield Care aims to achieve zero single use plastic waste across these areas. The Plastic Solution programme utilises a
closed-loop system. Reusable containers with special air-sealed valve caps replace single- use options. Once emptied, these containers
Plastic Solution co-founder Chris Tapp said: “We are delighted to partner with Elmfield Care, being the first care home group to adopt our unique zero plastic waste programme. Their commitment to driving this unique initiative across their estate is an admirable example to the wider care sector.”
June 2024
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
