Colleagues at HC One’s White Gables care home have been coming up with different ideas for activities that Residents can do throughout the pandemic.
The Lincoln home, as with many across the country, have faced numerous challenges throughout this time, including how to come up with new and safe activities.
Colleagues are constantly thinking up and finding ways of having mentally or physically challenging activities that can include social distancing.
One of the ways the home has overcome this is to make a giant scrabble game. Instead of being able to get two Residents sat round a table usually made for four to six people, the giant version allows up to eight Residents to play at a time.
This is a great way of utilising floor space while keeping the required safe distance between the Residents. It’s a great way to keep Residents involved in decision making, cause and effect, competitiveness to win and an awful lot of laughs along the way too!
The home is able to keep Residents active physically by utilising the artificial lawn recently created in the courtyard garden. It is big enough to play lawn darts, bowls, throw and catch, badminton, hoopla and a whole host of other lawn or outside games.
Residents can sit and appropriate social distance whilst enjoying the sun, fresh air, company and of course beneficial exercise. Colleagues have enjoyed finding different ways to involve as many people as possible to avoid social isolation, boredom and ultimately depression in this challenging, unprecedented situation.
The home manager commented “I am over the moon that the bowling green has proved to be the success we hoped it would be. It’s wonderful to see Colleagues and Residents interacting and enjoying the open space, and getting much needed exercise and fresh air. And what can I say about the giant scrabble, genius idea! I know a couple of other homes in our group do this too, I hope others jump on the band wagon as it’s so much fun.”