The benefits of a ‘Mind, Body & Soul’ approach to activities
As we get older, we often find ourselves losing connection. Social circles become smaller, and often our mental and physical wellbeing becomes compromised. To combat this, Birchwood House dedicates itself to carrying out meaningful activities for our residents. Thanks to our Activities Lead, Lizzie, we’ve adopted a Mind, Body & Soul approach to keeping our residents active and engaged. This means we take a holistic approach to wellness, covering all aspects of health in a way that is truly good for the soul.
Enriching the mind
We regularly host activities that stimulate the mind and improve mental wellbeing. We find trivia afternoons, such as our pub quizzes, so important for helping residents with memory retention and keeping their frontal cortex sharp. For those who enjoy a bit more of quiet time, we have ‘Games Galore’ one-to-one session and regular film viewings, which are both visually stimulating and relaxing for residents.
We also place a big emphasis on arts and crafts. Drawing helps spur creativity, allowing residents to express themselves in the way they choose. A lot of times our colouring is centered around a particular theme that a resident is interested in, as we find this helps to stimulate past memories and this in itself naturally leads to discussions of reminiscence. Not only does this make for a great conversation topic, but it also ensures residents feel supported, and that their needs are considered. Those trips down ‘memory lane’ leave a resounding positive emotional imprint.
Enriching the body
Of course, our activities are not just for mental wellbeing. Our hair appointments and nail painting sessions aim to boost our residents’ self-esteem and confidence, with regular fitness classes helping to sharpen various physical functions. We include relaxing treatments as part of our care routine, such as Indian head massages and reflexology. This gentle pressure helps to alleviate general aches and pains, as well as improving blood circulation. This is loved by residents, particularly Jo Jason, who said “I thought my treatment was marvelous, I had an Indian head massage and reflexology. I think Lizzie is terrific, she brings people to life.”
Cooking and baking, particularly sweet treats! This increases sensory function, allowing residents to get stuck in and practice physical independence in their hands. There’s also drinks-making, with Mint Juleps and iced lattes, as well as flower arranging, allowing residents to feel a sense of achievement while enjoying their own beautiful creations – and enjoying a cheeky little tipple as well!
We are always looking for fresh ways to support residents’ strength and mobility. Having a variety of exercise sessions is especially important to help everyone fully engage with tasks that help them approach each day with comfort and confidence. This can include exploring a wide range of body movements using stretch bands and vibrant swizzle sticks. These fun exercise-filled sessions can help with core strength, hand-eye coordination, and breathing exercises.
Enriching the soul
It is the combination of these mental and physical activities that best enrich the soul. These activities help to build a sense of community, creating opportunities for connections and social interactions.
As well as these group activities, Lizzie also does regular one-to-one visits with each resident, ensuring no one is left out. One-to-one care is about more than just physical support; the emotional support side is just as important. It’s important that support is tailored to every individual at Birchwood House, as well as fostering the group community.
Our activities lead
Our focus has always been to enrich our residents’ lives, but this has truly blossomed under Lizzie’s direction as Activities Lead. She’s been organising activities at Birchwood House since last year, focusing on the mind and the body to better comfort the soul. And it’s safe to say, it’s been a success! Marion Wheeler, a resident’s relative, agreed that “Lizzie always puts a smile on the residents faces when she enters the room and makes them feel special.”
Lizzie prepares the weekly activities planner herself, tailoring it to the individual wishes of the residents. She listens and understands their needs, making sure to plan an enriching week of entertainment. With the wide variety of activities she creates, residents’ mental wellbeing is looked after just as much as their physical needs. She is a kind and friendly face around Birchwood House, and Joan Golton, a resident, agrees Lizzie “feels like one of the girls.”
It’s not just the residents that Lizzie works hard for, but also the local community itself. She organises regular visits from community members and organisations to keep residents connected with the world. For example, in December last year Birchwood House had the joy of welcoming the Solefield School Chamber Choir, who performed beautifully for our residents. We’ve also had a visit from the Kent Academy of Irish Dance in celebration of St Patrick’s Day, as well as a collaboration with PVH Clothing for some special Valentines Day biscuits! Thanks to Lizzie we can bring the community to Birchwood House, creating meaningful connections as well as providing great entertainment for all.
