Improving Care, Improving Wellbeing

Older people in Residential and other Care settings will soon be offered new opportunities to take part in a variety of activities to meet their needs and interests, thanks to the Target: Wellbeing Programme, which has awarded a grant of nearly £half a million to Cumbria.

The Cumbrian programme is being delivered through four projects, designed to change the quality of life in Care in different ways.

The ‘Enriched Opportunities’ project, led by Age Concerns across Cumbria, is working with Cumbria Care Homes and volunteers in local communities to introduce many different activities which residents can take part in together and with family and friends. Activities range from quoits, skittles, Songs and Dancing to Fashion through the Ages, 1940s and the War Years, Fruit tasting, Pamper mornings and Hand Massage and Relaxation. Residents are also encouraged to take an interest in the surrounding area, for example putting up bird tables to attract local wildlife.

The ‘Reading Groups for Older People’ project, provided by Cumbria Library Services, will shortly introduce themed reading and discussion sessions in Care Settings, while the ‘Care School’ project, led by Care Sector Alliance Cumbria, will provide training to equip Care staff with the skills and knowledge to improve both activity provision and nutrition for older people in their care for the future. Finally, the ‘Gold Standard’ project, led by Age Concern Northwest Cumbria will research and promote models of good practice for improving older people’s experience of Care in the future.