Thoughts/opinions required please

[lanobbre]

I'm an occupational therapist who wishes to specialize in dementia care. My friend (fellow OT) and I are thinking of starting a new venture which would involve providing physical and cognitive activities in nursing/residential homes, day centres and possibly joint working with other organisations.

We have found that, whilst some homes do offer some stimulation and employ activity co-ordinators, they do not possess the necessary skills to enable all residents to engage in activity. As occupational therapists, we would be able to assess individuals and then grade and adapt components of the activity to match skill levels. Our aim is to promote gentle exercise and improve emotional wellbeing.

We would also like to expand this and train carers/support staff and even families on how to effectively interact and communicate with people with dementia.

What do people think to this? Do you think there is a need for it? Do you think that this type of venture would work? Do you think that occupational therapists are the best professionals to provide this?

I would appreciate all comments, positive and negative.

Thanks.

[sad girl]

As I am only new to dementia care I think this is a brilliant idea and feel it would be beneficial to our relatives. I actually had this conversation last week with a lady from Age UK's Dementia department about how I can get mum stimulated and was going through various ideas......she just sits in her chair letting the day go by!

It will be good to hear the thoughts of other members who have relatives at a more advanced stage.

Good luck !

[jenny-s]

Hi

I'm just about to finish my training to be an activity coordinator and am hoping to specialise in working with those with dementia. I definately think you could make a huge success of your idea. When I tell people I what I do they think I play bingo all day. It's so frustrating. I want to go a lot deeper than your average activity coordinator and would love to work with families that are dealing with either early onset dementia or worse, in their own homes. I think that families are just left to deal with things on their own and often have no idea how to enrich the lives of their loved ones. I have so many ideas but don't really know where to start with it all.

[lanobbre]

Hi

I'm just about to finish my training to be an activity coordinator and am hoping to specialise in working with those with dementia. I definately think you could make a huge success of your idea. When I tell people I what I do they think I play bingo all day. It's so frustrating. I want to go a lot deeper than your average activity coordinator and would love to work with families that are dealing with either early onset dementia or worse, in their own homes. I think that families are just left to deal with things on their own and often have no idea how to enrich the lives of their loved ones. I have so many ideas but don't really know where to start with it all.

Hi Jenny

Thanks for your support. I also think it's a great idea and having worked in social services and other organisations for a number of years, I can see where it's needed. I think a lot of the problems in homes, hospitals etc is down to a lack of education. People tend to be afraid of the unknown don't they?

I think what you're doing is great too and having a passion for it is what makes the difference. People see that. I don't know what type of training you've done so far but have you ever considered training to be an occupational therapist? If you want to work closely with families etc then that may be a good avenue to take. You can do it part time at most of the universities that do it.

Maybe we can swap/share ideas??

[lanobbre]

As I am only new to dementia care I think this is a brilliant idea and feel it would be beneficial to our relatives. I actually had this conversation last week with a lady from Age UK's Dementia department about how I can get mum stimulated and was going through various ideas......she just sits in her chair letting the day go by!

It will be good to hear the thoughts of other members who have relatives at a more advanced stage.

Good luck !

Hi

Thanks for your comment. I also hate to see people with dementia just sat in a chair all day...worse still, sat in front of a TV that they don't comprehend. The opportunities for activities are endless - the important thing is to know your mum's skill level. If it's too challenging then she won't understand or become frustrated and upset. It's always good to know what she used to like to do - art? crafts? games? But then that doesn't necessarily mean that she won't enjoy something now that she perhaps didn't participate in before so don't rule anything out. Seeing as it's your mum, I'd start with the good old family album and help her reminisce about old times. Of course, if it's advanced dementia then avoid photographs - as people can sometimes get frustrated and upset thinking they should know who the person is in the photo but don't. Textures etc are sensory and stimulating....maybe do a collage of different materials or let her touch soft play dough, roll it.....give her a small rolling pin etc and it may remind her of baking. Music is another good one.

There are several good books you can buy now that suggest lots of ideas for activities. Remember that you can apply almost any activity but dependent on your mum's dementia, skill level, physical ability etc, you may have to adjust it slightly so that she can participate effectively.

Good luck.

[jenny-s]

Hi Jenny

Thanks for your support. I also think it's a great idea and having worked in social services and other organisations for a number of years, I can see where it's needed. I think a lot of the problems in homes, hospitals etc is down to a lack of education. People tend to be afraid of the unknown don't they?

I think what you're doing is great too and having a passion for it is what makes the difference. People see that. I don't know what type of training you've done so far but have you ever considered training to be an occupational therapist? If you want to work closely with families etc then that may be a good avenue to take. You can do it part time at most of the universities that do it.

Maybe we can swap/share ideas??

I would love to swap ideas with you. My mum is an OT, she's worked for the NHS for years and I'm not sure that's the route I'd like to go down. She finds it incredibly stressful and frustrating what with budgets etc, assessing people and then finding out they can't have what they need I currently work for Age Concern as a home help and one of my clients in a gentlemen who's wife has dementia, he is her main carer and finds things incredibly hard. She goes to a memory clinic but only once every 6 months and other than that he is simply left to cope. I see a huge gap for a service I want to provide but have no idea how to go about it. How do you see yourself starting up?

[dwnie]

I'm an occupational therapist who wishes to specialize in dementia care. My friend (fellow OT) and I are thinking of starting a new venture which would involve providing physical and cognitive activities in nursing/residential homes, day centres and possibly joint working with other organisations.

We have found that, whilst some homes do offer some stimulation and employ activity co-ordinators, they do not possess the necessary skills to enable all residents to engage in activity. As occupational therapists, we would be able to assess individuals and then grade and adapt components of the activity to match skill levels. Our aim is to promote gentle exercise and improve emotional wellbeing.

We would also like to expand this and train carers/support staff and even families on how to effectively interact and communicate with people with dementia.

What do people think to this? Do you think there is a need for it? Do you think that this type of venture would work? Do you think that occupational therapists are the best professionals to provide this?

I would appreciate all comments, positive and negative.

Thanks.

Hi, this sounds like a brilliant idea, my step-dad goes to a day centre 3 days where they do activities if he wants to participate. I think there is also a "market" for supporting carers at home. Good luck

[lanobbre]

Hi, this sounds like a brilliant idea, my step-dad goes to a day centre 3 days where they do activities if he wants to participate. I think there is also a "market" for supporting carers at home. Good luck

Thank you. I hadn't considered taking it to people's own homes but that's a possibility...maybe with a team of volunteers?? Thanks for your support.

[lanobbre]

I would love to swap ideas with you. My mum is an OT, she's worked for the NHS for years and I'm not sure that's the route I'd like to go down. She finds it incredibly stressful and frustrating what with budgets etc, assessing people and then finding out they can't have what they need I currently work for Age Concern as a home help and one of my clients in a gentlemen who's wife has dementia, he is her main carer and finds things incredibly hard. She goes to a memory clinic but only once every 6 months and other than that he is simply left to cope. I see a huge gap for a service I want to provide but have no idea how to go about it. How do you see yourself starting up?

I know exactly where your mum is coming from and I don't enjoy that side of OT either. That's why I've moved away from it and going back to what real OT is all about. To be honest, I never want to look at another 4" raised toilet seat ever again! Does the Age UK office you work for have a befriending service? If so then you could ask to be part of that, maybe as a volunteer and then who knows, you could end up co-ordinating it. If they haven't already got one then suggest it and get involved. Also, if your Age UK runs luncheon clubs or other activity based sessions, get involved in those too and again, if they don't then suggest it.

What you could do is provide a sitting service (again, Age UK normally provides this service) so that people with dementia and their carers who are in receipt of direct payments (or not) can purchase a sitter who can sit with that person in their own home whilst the carer goes out. You'd need to have a CRB check and perhaps other checks such as POVA but it's an idea. Sometimes, voluntary service centres and CABs give advice on setting up your own business, social enterprises etc. If you really want to do something, go for it.

[jenny-s]

I know exactly where your mum is coming from and I don't enjoy that side of OT either. That's why I've moved away from it and going back to what real OT is all about. To be honest, I never want to look at another 4" raised toilet seat ever again! Does the Age UK office you work for have a befriending service? If so then you could ask to be part of that, maybe as a volunteer and then who knows, you could end up co-ordinating it. If they haven't already got one then suggest it and get involved. Also, if your Age UK runs luncheon clubs or other activity based sessions, get involved in those too and again, if they don't then suggest it.

What you could do is provide a sitting service (again, Age UK normally provides this service) so that people with dementia and their carers who are in receipt of direct payments (or not) can purchase a sitter who can sit with that person in their own home whilst the carer goes out. You'd need to have a CRB check and perhaps other checks such as POVA but it's an idea. Sometimes, voluntary service centres and CABs give advice on setting up your own business, social enterprises etc. If you really want to do something, go for it.

They're all great ideas thank you Are you just going to go for it and go self employed? Its great that you're going to have someone to do it with, a little less scary! I'd really love to do a few hours in the local hospitals on the stroke wards etc, that'll be a really tough one to get into though I think.

[susana53]

I'm a freelance activity co-ordinator and have been working in 8 different care homes for the past 7 years, 3 of which are EMI. I have been advertising recently to see if there is any need in my area for private activity sessions but so far have had no response. [except a bogus reply which is what you have to watch out for!]