The Importance of Activity Programmes in Care Homes

Studies have shown that there are many benefits to residents partaking in care home activities. It has been proven that social activities can improve the mental and physical wellbeing of an older individual.

The activities for care home residents can be simply doing some drawing in a group setting or it can be more intensive by going on an outing into the local community. The activities team who plan the activities in a care home will take into account that not everyone has the same interests and will create tailored activities for all different kinds of lifestyles, hobbies and interests.

Mental Health Improved

Participating in mentally engaging activities is important for several reasons and studies have found that they can improve the general health of someone.

The activities programmes within care homes are created to bring a sense of achievement to the residents as well as provide a form of entertainment. The care home activities team organise weekly activities such as games, competitions, baking activities and art sessions to help the residents feel more motivated through mental stimulation.

By having a structured activities programme, the care homes residents can always have something to look forward to and it forms a routine each week. Often there is a theme incorporated into the activities programme, whether seasonal or for an upcoming national day such as Easter and Christmas.

Improving Your Physical Health

Throughout a person’s life, it is important to stay active and it is encouraged that people continue to do this even later in life due to its physical benefits. Doing a few exercises each week such as going on walks in nature can significantly reduce stress and the risks of severe illnesses like heart disease.

Encouraging residents to do physical activity has many benefits to their overall well-being and has the ability to boost the immune system, improve the digestive system, lower blood pressure and can reduce the risks of diabetes by just doing some leisure activities on their own or a group.

Many care homes will introduce exercise classes in their activities programme that will improve the health of residents through gentle exercise, and will often adapt the exercises to enable those who are frail or in wheelchairs to take part. The activities coordinator at the care home will also take advantage of the facilities that the home has to offer like taking activities outside during the summer months for residents to get some fresh air when participating in some gardening or other stimulating activities such as a game of bowls or putting. By adopting a more active lifestyle residents can continue to carry out some of their daily tasks for longer by strengthening their muscles, bones and balance.

Social Activities & Events To Reduce Loneliness

Before moving into a residential care home individuals often have a lack of self-esteem and life satisfaction because of feeling alone at home. When living in a care home residents are supported to overcome physical barriers like the loss of hearing, depression or even the lack of interest in personal care. The care home staff is able to achieve this by encouraging residents to get involved in group activities.

By participating in fulfilling activities, residents can be brought together to help improve their emotional well-being and form new relationships with other residents who are in a similar situation.

Care homes and nursing homes will often arrange day trips outside of the home to go and attend entertainment events such as theatre shows, community gatherings in the local hall or to visit local attractions. 

Looking Back On The Past & Previous Experiences

Care home residents will be offered a wide range of activities that have been designed to suit their interests. These activities are often things that individuals may have done in the past, or they may encourage some to learn a new skill such as knitting. Participating in activities that they used to enjoy, such as baking as this can trigger fond memories, especially for those with dementia.

Reminiscing can be a powerful tool for bonding with others and reducing the impact of dementia by helping to improve their cognitive skills. Remembering things from the past can spark happy memories and provide connections within a care home, as often people living with dementia go back to a younger time in their life.

Keeping Up With New Hobbies & Discovering New Interests

Living in a supportive care home will encourage residents to continue with activities that they once loved as individuals with the help of care staff. Within a setting like this, residents also have the opportunity to pursue new interests that they have never had the chance to do before. This can be actively encouraged in a group setting where residents can learn something alongside someone else, which not only gets the cognitive side of their brain working but provides the opportunity to socialise with like-minded individuals.

The Benefits of Activity Programmes

Participating in social activities provides many emotional and mental health benefits due to the importance of friendships, socialisation and laughter with others through group activities. Often as we grow older we naturally become more isolated and lonely which can lead to depression, so taking part in social activities is likely to improve someone’s mood and overall well-being.

Not everyone is the same or has the same personal interests. Activity planning means getting to each resident as the individual they are and finding out their likes, dislikes and preferences, to ensure that everyone's needs are met. Whether that’s creating a book club, playing board games, participating in art classes or spending time with others by simply having a chat over a cup of tea, the opportunities are endless.

The Ashton Care Home’s Activity Programme

At The Ashton Care Home, we believe in providing meaningful activities to help improve our residents’ overall health. By having an accessible activities programme alongside our high-quality care services, our residents can expect to experience an increase in mental, emotional and physical well-being thanks to their new interactive social life.

Within our loving home, we want to ensure residents have a wide range of meaningful activities to partake in, whether it’s live music from the musical duo Di and Mike, spending the afternoon painting or joining the gardening club there is so much fun to be had on a daily basis.

Our care home in Hinckley, Leicestershire offers its residents a tailored programme of activities. We know that not everyone is the same so our residents have the freedom to choose what social activities they want to partake in. If one of our residents wants to have a quieter day, we have a range of facilities that they can use, such as catching up with loved ones in the garden.

The Ashton has a dedicated dementia team that can provide its residents with not only high-quality care but meaningful activities that can trigger fond memories and improve overall wellbeing. Many residents at our home love getting involved with the activities that we provide. These include baking, sensory activities, music therapy and arts and crafts that allow residents to get creative and resonate with memories of their past.

About The Ashton Care Home In Hinckley

The Ashton is an all-inclusive luxury care home in Leicestershire that offers Residential, Nursing, Respite and Dementia Care for a range of care needs. We do more than just provide basic care needs, we look after the individual as a whole, caring for their health needs and also their mental, physical and emotional needs for an enriched way of life. We offer a plethora of in-house facilities including landscaped gardens and a hair salon for residents to use at their leisure at no extra cost.

At The Ashton, we want to make sure that our residents experience a sense of joy in their daily living and we encourage them to get involved with the many different things going on in the home as we are a community where everyone is invited to take part. Throughout the year, we host seasonal events that we invite loved ones to, whether it's Easter, Christmas, summer bbq or birthday celebrations so that residents can continue to maintain strong relationships with their family members but also form new friendships with residents and staff. 

Get In Touch With Our Expert Team Today

If you would like to find out more about The Ashton Care Home, contact our team today by calling 01455 233 350, by emailing info@ashtoncarehome.co.uk or by filling out our contact form, and a member of the team will be delighted to assist you.