12.5.2024 PCS
Enhanced by Person Centred Software's Wellness and Activities Platform
We talked to Lisa Stevenson, the Lead Activities Coordinator for Kingsmead Care Home, to discover how our Wellness and Activities Platform is bringing the magic of Christmas to life this year!
As Christmas approaches, it breaks our hearts to know that many of our Kingmead residents will not receive visitors or gifts during this festive season. That's why we always go above and beyond to create a special Christmas experience for them, ensuring they feel loved and cherished despite the circumstances. PCS's Wellness and Activities Platform significantly helps us achieve this during Christmas and throughout the rest of the year!
Our care home group, Healthcare Homes, operates nearly 50 residential, nursing, and specialist care homes across the South and East of England. Each one uses Person Centred Software's Wellness and Activities Platform.
To generate excitement and get residents into the festive spirit during the build-up to Christmas, we organise a variety of festive activities using the platform. The platform offers enjoyable and engaging activities for all interests and abilities, allowing our activity coordinators to enhance their skills and improve every aspect of wellbeing delivery, which positively impacts the residents' outcomes and overall wellbeing.
Festive fun with Dame Dolly's singalong Christmas pantomime
The first activity on the platform that caught my attention this year was Dame Dolly Doughnut's Christmas Singalong pantomime. We have several residents living with dementia who used to work in theatre. Although they may not remember their past experiences in the theatre, I know they're going to enjoy it.
Listening to familiar music can evoke positive responses, such as smiling or even moving and dancing, even when communication abilities have diminished in some dementia cases. The platform offers many singalongs and music activities that greatly assist with this.
What I appreciate most about the platform is that each resident has their own profile. This feature allows me to record specific activities that were particularly successful and enjoyable for each resident, as well as track their outcomes. By doing this, I can identify which activities are most beneficial for each individual. The platform often feels like an additional team member because it helps me keep track of all this important information.
Additionally, the platform helps us save money. For example, our care home is down the road from a theatre. However, it costs £220 to take five residents to a performance, which is not something we can often do.
Additionally, many residents aren't mobile enough to attend the panto. Fortunately, with the money we've saved, I can bring the pantomimes directly to everyone in their rooms or the home's lounge area using the Wellness and Activities platform, which connects to the iPad. It's fantastic!
The tales of Christmas past
Another thing I like about the platform is that new activities are constantly being added around the clock, ensuring you never get bored with the available options. I recently saw a new activity titled "The Tales of Christmas Past." I had a quick look, and I think the residents will truly enjoy this one. This activity explores historical Christmas moments, such as the Apollo 8 mission, Charlie Chaplin's legacy, the unexpected Christmas truce in the trenches, and many other stories they will likely remember from childhood.
Activities like these often encourage residents to remember their own Christmas traditions from the past, sparking engaging conversations. Reminiscing can have a positive impact on older adults; it's a simple yet powerful mental exercise that can significantly enhance mood, cognitive function, and overall wellbeing. The platform offers a diverse range of highly beneficial reminiscence activities.
Among these offerings are numerous other festive Christmas activities that help to enhance the holiday spirit. Residents can follow step-by-step instructions for creating sensory Christmas jars, perfect for stimulating memories through touch and scent. They can enjoy making vibrant Christmas dance chains, cards, and postcards and explore various Christmas reminiscence games, encouraging residents to share stories and reminisce about past holiday experiences. In the kitchen, residents can learn how to bake delightful treats such as Christmas banana bread and explore an array of other festive recipes, including refreshing Christmas punch, Christmas tea rings, and delicious Christmas pudding flapjacks.
Bringing Christmas magic to life
As I previously mentioned, not many of our residents receive visits over Christmas, so we really have to bring Christmas magic to life, and the platform helps us do this!
The Wellness and Activities platform offers a wide range of activities specifically designed for older adults, catering to their physical, emotional, and social needs. While it provides festive activities for occasions such as Christmas, its offerings extend far beyond that, encompassing a variety of engaging and enriching experiences.
Since implementing the platform, we have seen an increase in mental wellbeing among residents, and the exercise sessions are proving effective in reducing falls. It's truly amazing to witness these positive changes.
To make this Christmas truly memorable for residents, we're organising a Christmas competition among our care homes. Each home will transform its space with Christmas decorations, competing for the 'Best Decorated Christmas Care Home'. All the care staff are currently immersed in the festive spirit, and their excitement becomes contagious among the residents. The residents, in turn, are enchanted by the twinkling lights, festive ornaments, and Christmas trees. All these Christmas decorations help to spark their enthusiasm and rekindle cherished memories, creating a warm nostalgia that makes the season even more special. We also participate in a Christmas card exchange every year with local schools, which is lovely because all the residents receive a handmade card.
On Christmas Day, I come in with my children, and some other staff also join. I dress up as Mrs. Claus, and my kids come in as elves. The residents love it! All of this, coupled with Person Centred Software's Wellness and Activities platform, really helps to make the build-up to Christmas and Christmas Day for the residents extra special.
After the Christmas excitement is over in January, some residents naturally feel a bit down. However, the platform's activities help keep their spirits high until next Christmas.
What sets the Wellness and Activities platform apart from other platforms I've used is its strong commitment to inclusivity. The platform provides a diverse range of activities tailored to meet the needs of all residents, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their skill or ability level, can find an engaging and enjoyable experience.
