An enriching life starts with meaningful engagement, which will positively impact health and wellbeing. To achieve this, activities and engagement must focus on the individual needs of each resident, supporting them as a whole person. Environment, friendly carers, a range of social events, entertainment and daily outings are all key in providing this.

The Importance of Good Activities and Engagement

Many elderly people living in a care home are still able to be active in the community, independently choosing and engaging with their favourite activities. Even so, it is important that all residents are supported by a designated engagement team, whose purpose it is to maintain wellbeing, which can be done in a wide variety of ways. Feedback from residents on their individual preferences and interests, can be used to create personalised activity programmes, regular clubs or special events. This enables each resident to lead enriched, stimulating lives in the home.

Residents who live with limited mobility, dementia, or both, rely on thoughtful engagement for their mental and physical stimulation. Effectively providing this is incredibly important, as good, stimulating activities can reduce stress, boredom and sadness. Physical activity also has positive impacts on mental health, as well as keeping the residents fit. Understanding each resident individually, providing events and activities that they will appreciate, is so crucial to wellbeing.

Fun Activities for People Living with Dementia

There are countless fun activities that  people living with dementia are still able to achieve, participate in, and enjoy. For example:

•  Expressing themselves through painting or drawing
•  Listening to nostalgic music
•  Chair yoga
•  Stretching
•  Short walks, if they are physically able
•  Cooking

These are all fun care home activities that people living with dementia are able to participate in with the right support.

It is important to keep those living with dementia flourishing and engaged. This is always best achieved through understanding them on an individual level – knowing their background, likes, dislikes and favoured routine, will allow them to maintain their identity and engage with activities that they truly enjoy and will be able to focus on.

For example, a resident living with dementia who has spent his life working as a drummer will engage with and find joy when provided with the opportunity to play drums – minimising negative mood, stress, and agitation that may arise throughout the day. A focus on individualised activities which are geared to each person is the most effective way to help engage people living with dementia.

How B&M Plan Activities for their Residents

At B&M Care, each one of our 26 homes has a designated Engagement Lead. They create fun, varied activities and outings that consider each resident’s preferences and requests. Additionally, all care staff in each home are trained and encouraged to also focus on providing meaningful engagement when interacting with and caring for residents. At B&M Care we also believe that residents should be able to enjoy activities independently on their own schedules, so we make sure that each home has accessible activities stations with materials for knitting, art, reading, and much more.

The way that we provide activities and entertainment for our residents is governed by our Rose Model of Dementia Care, which stresses the person-centred ethos that is key in ensuring individuals are celebrated for who they truly are and cared for in the best possible way.