Here's how to support your activity coordinators through lockdown...and beyond

At interactiveMe we have been putting our thinking hats on to see how we can support UK activity coordinators across the care home spectrum to deliver the best activities to residents and I think you'll want to take part...

Many of the homes we work with are getting used to the so-called 'new normal' with many new protocols in place and restrictions continuing. Activity coordinators (and those which go by other titles) are some of the most important people in care homes at the moment. Their essential role has become all the more valued as visitors and families are not being allowed to come through the doors of care homes to engage with the residents within it.

As an Occupational Therapist, at the heart of my being is the need to support people to engage in meaningful occupation, engagement and 'normal' everyday activities from washing and dressing to taking part in hobbies and family life. Activity coordinators are those who do their very best to meet the social and occupational needs of the residents they support. Some homes have one, some have quite a few but all are stretched at the moment and need our help. This comes in 3 forms: Supporting, Sharing and Smiling.

I believe the way we can help activity coordinators is by bringing them together from across the care home operator spectrum to share ideas, make improvements and deliver the best activities possible for our residents at this current time.

Imagine all the amazing ideas, good practice and activity resources from different care homes being shared between the walls of all our great care homes and care home groups?

Today I am announcing how we are going to support these amazing people, both activity coordinators that we work with and those who we do not. We are launching the Care Home Activities Factory, a weekly live webinar which will bring out the very best of activities coordinators by supporting them through these toughest of times. We will share ideas, talk about tough issues and hear from many of the UK's finest activity coordinators and heads of well-being.

It's free to all via our Zoom Page and we are going to run weekly from Wednesday 17th of June starting at 0845 for 45 minutes (all done by 0930 to get on with the day).

Activity coordinators will be able to just listen (without being on video!), ask questions or talk if they wish. Every week we will cover a different topic by supporting them, sharing with them and smiling. Plus because we are on Zoom we can build up our capacity to having every activities coordinator in the country on at once! How amazing is that. Our first topic is - Activities in lockdown, how are you coping?

To join us just fill in our registration form by clicking the below link or forward the link to your activity coordinator.

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/1715916116952/WN_79sEUIuFRuOs75ja7Ligpg

If we can support our activity coordinators to be the best they can then we know that our residents are getting the best psychological, social and occupational support they deserve.

We look forward to seeing you then!

Sam and all the team at interactiveMe