Engagement and Well-being
As well as physical health, mental health is as important. It’s important that individuals stay on top of their mental wellbeing, stay engaged and are physically healthy. We have put together a page of exercise, engagement and wellbeing resources for you to use with those who you are looking after.
This page is a great place for you to start and view all the latest opportunities and resources for individuals to get involved in. Resources are suitable for those living in their own homes, those living with a learning disability or for those living in a residential home.
Click the buttons to explore our resources:
Engagement
Social distancing can be tough, boring, and frustrating. It is important to maintain healthy patterns of behaviour to stay mentally active. HCPA have gathered several ideas to be used in different settings.
See below for what will be best suited for you.
Mental Health Settings
Residential Settings
Home Care
Dementa Settings
Adult Disability
HCPA Activity Sheets
Suitable for all and fantastic for staff to do with those they are looking after
Please see below for a list of enjoyable and creative activity ideas for absolutely anyone during this time. They will keep you busy and engaged while staying at home:
- Find out how to make quick and easy bird feeders for your garden or outside space: Bird feeders
- Now that we have warmer weather, Spring watch is a great activity to look at flowers. Staff can take pictures and ask those around them what they remind them off, creating meaningful discussions: Spring Watch
- Making use of the garden is beneficial to mental health. Watching wildlife is also a great way to enjoy the outdoors and discuss the importance of the ecosystem: Wildlife Watch
- Engage with individuals by bird watching, which you can do inside or outside. You could always print off birds and see if they can be spotted! Bird Watching
- Learn how to press flowers with this activity sheet; this is a great way to keep busy and get creative! Press flowers
Health Innovation Network
Suitable for people in Older Adult Mental Health services, Care Homes and any other relevant settings
Click below for a comprehensive guide to maintaining activity for Older Adults during COVID-19. This is perfect if you are working in Older Adult Mental Health services and Care Homes.
The Royal Occupational Therapists toolkit
If you are working in a Care Home or just need some ideas to keep you or someone you are looking after engaged
The Royal Occupational Therapists have put together a toolkit with many ideas and resources to keep the mind stimulated.
Click on the link to see the different topics they provide information about, including reminiscence:
Reminiscence Activities
If you are working in a Care Home or if you are supporting someone with Dementia at home
Reminiscence activities can bring back happy memories to ignite positive feelings. If you are supporting someone living with Dementia then sharing life experiences, memories, and stories from the past can give those who are living with Dementia confidence and stimulate memories.
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has put together a document full of information on reminiscence activities
» Social care institute for excellence: Reminiscence activities
Riccardo Music Workshops
Virtual entertainment for those in Care Homes or who are self-isolating
Riccardo is a singer currently doing virtual entertainment on live streams over Facebook. Search for RCJ workshops on Facebook and request your favourite tunes!
You can even listen to his past performances to keep you entertained while staying at home. Click on this link to view his website:
Alzheimer’s Society
If you are supporting someone living with Dementia
Think about cooking at home and using technology to be in contact with others. Visit their website for lots of ideas on how to keep those your are supporting engaged:
» Alzheimers.org Activity ideas
If you are supporting someone living with Dementia and would like to talk to others for advice, join the Alzheimer’s Society forum. This can help people reach out to others going through similar experiences:
Live a Little
Suitable for those living with Learning disabilities and those in care.
Live a little are keeping individuals social and active with weekly sessions that include dance classes, gym sessions, cookery classes, and DJ entertainment. #livealittlestayhome.
Please contact info@livealittle.org.uk for more information to keep active and social during this time.
Herts Disability Sports Foundation (HDSF) Virtual Discos
Suitable for those living with Learning disabilities.
HDSF have been putting on virtual discos to get you dancing at home. See their website for more information and how to take part! Book onto online sessions!
St Albans MENCAP
Suitable for those living with Learning disabilities.
Mencap have started going live with sessions to keep you engaged at home. These sessions cover a range of activities including music, drama, and arts and craft. Follow this link to sign up on their Facebook page: Facebook – Mencap Live sessions
Electric Umbrella
Suitable for everyoneElectric Umbrella is a group of musicians with learning difficulties who perform their music at various events.
Join them daily for huge helpings of fun, music, and madness!
Stay connected throughout the day with programming that will keep everyone entertained and, above all, smiling.
With their professional music makers and special guest slots, they’ll bring you a fully interactive experience that means no one should feel home alone.
» More information available at www.electricumbrella.co.uk
The World Health Organisation and Global Citizen
Suitable for everyone
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Global Citizen have put together a virtual event called ‘Together At Home’. This series aims to help relax you and ease your mind by listening to a whole array of music performances. There is something for everyone; Jazz, Reggae and Pop!
» Youtube – Together At HomeNational Theatre
Suitable for everyone
The National Theatre at home are still planning ways to keep you entertained. Take a look on their youtube channel to view quizzes hosted by famous faces!
Dance Syndrome
Suitable for those living with Learning disabilities.
These dance sessions are adapted so everyone can take part at home and it is suitable for everyone with a range of abilities and disabilities. It is a great way to keep active and have a good time from the comfort of your own home.
Oasis 2 Inclusion Academy Cottered
Oasis 2 Inclusion Academy offers Weekly Topic Sheets for all young adults with a learning and/or physical disability.
Oasis 2 is a provision for young adults who have learning and/or physical disabilities and is a day care provision based in Cottered Herts. As part of their weekly plans, they organise a topic for each week, which can be anything to do with life, what is going on in the world, different countries, animals, plants, trees, flowers, birds, etc.
Oasis 2’s topics are organised up until the end of the year and they have adapted them to send out to all their students to give them something to focus on while they are having to be at home.
The topics can be easily adapted to suit the abilities of any adult, so it could be used with any individual at home, within residential units, or in older people’s homes.
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact liz@oasisacademy.co.uk with their name/email address and the name of town they live in. Oasis 2 will send out Topic Sheets each week in readiness for the following week.
If you have any questions, they are more than happy to help; call Liz on 07742 969 175
Well-being
There is a lot of speculation going around on social media about COVID-19, which can fuel anxiety and worry. Therefore, making sure that you are only looking at the correct, validated sources of information is important.
Watching the news can be frustrating and upsetting and it may be necessary to take some time away from the TV.
Below is a list of trusted sites offering advice if you are unsure where to look:
» Gov.uk and Public Health England
» NHS
If individuals are feeling lonely at this time, please seek help from the charities below who are there for people through this time of uncertainty:
- Age UK has a support line available to you if people are feeling lonely. They are rallying together to give people the support they need through this time and are on the other end of the phone if people need someone to talk to.
» Age UK Advice
- Age UK has a support line available to you if people are feeling lonely. They are rallying together to give people the support they need through this time and are on the other end of the phone if people need someone to talk to.
- Individuals could also contact the Samaritans; they have lots of information on their webpage and an advice line if people have worries, are feeling stressed, or need someone to talk to.
» Samaritans Information
For Everyone
For You
Adult Disability
Nutrition Support
HCPA mindfulness videos
Suitable for everyone
HCPA have put together a mindfulness video with Joseph. This is important to reduce levels of stress and take some time out of your day to concentrate on yourself.
» Tai Chi
Hertfordshire Independent Living Service (HILS)
Nutrition support for those who you are caring for
HILS have provided lots of nutrition support for people. Their information includes eating well with Dementia, food allergies, and problems with swallowing and chewing. Click the link to see these resources:
Herts Care Line
If citizens have any concerns during this time
Herts Care Line has a 24/7 control room as they continue to be there for the community. Operators can offer advice and arrange medical help if you have any concerns.
If people are awaiting on an installation, then they have engineers adhering to the strict guidelines who will also provide them with the pertinent information provided before, during and after your installation appointment:
COVID-19 Resilience Hub
From MindEd for Care Staff
The Resilience Hub has been created to help front line staff manage their own mental health and well-being. They have the best advice and tips from experts. The hub has been created on behalf of Health Education England in partnership with NHS England-Improvement.
They have provided resources for:
- Helping each other
- Tips for Manager and Team Leaders
- Stress and Fear
- Trauma and Stress
- End of life and Bereavement.
- Further resources for Managers.
Watford MENCAP
For those supporting someone with a learning disability
Watford Mencap are still offering their services to the people they support. Their opening hours have increased from 8am to 8pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm on weekends. Their geographic coverage has increased so that they can help throughout the whole of Hertfordshire.
Their advice team is open 8am to 8pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm on weekends. They can help with a variety of topics including applying and resolving benefit enquiries, housing problems, and signposting you to information and help.
» Click here for more information Watford Mencap
Every mind matters (NHS)
For people, if they need guidance on how to keep on top of mental health.
Every mind matters have been put together by the NHS to encourage people to look after their mental health. This resource will provide people with information if they are worried about the Coronavirus.
If people do feel like they need further support, then use the urgent support link at the bottom of the every mind matters page.
Hertfordshire Healthy Hubs
For any resident of Hertfordshire
Healthy hubs are a great place to get advice and support on your overall health.
Find out how to:
- Manage your weight
- Give up smoking
- Look after your mental health
- Cut down on your drinking
- Become more active
- Get healthy eating advice
- Reduce drug use and dependency
- Join community groups and activities
- SUccess the Citizens Advice Service
- Get support as a carer
- Find out about health events.
» Visit the Healthy hub’s website to find your nearest healthy hub in Hertfordshire
Mind.org
For people, if they are experiencing low mood, stress, and anxiety
The mental health charity Mind has put together a guide on how to look after your well-being. This information can help people if they are feeling worried or anxious, if they are staying at home, or if people are self-isolating during COVID-19.
Additionally, you can check out the NHS’s yoga video to help people keep moving, relax, and tackle any feelings of stress:
» Mind – information and support during COVID-19
Mind also has references to mindfulness websites to encourage people to relax and reduce any feelings of stress and anxiety:
» Calm.com
Live mindfulness sessions at 8.30am and 4.30pm every Monday to Friday led by a qualified mindfulness instructor and experienced mental health worker.
The living well courses cover:
- Feeling well to reduce feelings of depression and sadness
- Building courage to overcome anxiety
- Staying well at work, which is specially designed for people who have not worked from home before
- Learning to relax, manage stress, and better sleep workshops
For more information about these courses designed for the whole Social Care workforce, click here.
All courses are led by a qualified and experienced mental health practitioner. The sessions are interactive and numbers are limited to 16 per session so that everyone can participate.
The World Health Organisation (WHO)
For the general population including care workers, team leaders, managers and if you are looking after adults or children
The World Health Organiszation have put together a coping with stress document to help you if you are feeling sad, stressed, confused, scared or angry during this time. It is important to manage your mental health to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Learning Disabilities and Autism: NHS England and NHS Improvement
The NHS foundation trust has put together many resources to help with feelings of anxiety. Please see below for resources about managing anxiety, breathing, and mindfulness.
» Five things to do when feeling anxious
» Five seconds of breathing exercise