Improving Quality of Life for Older People in Long-Stay Care ...

Chapter ElevenActivities and Therapies11.1 Introduction200This chapter examines the opportunities within the long-stay care sector forresidents to pursue meaningful and purposeful activities. It explores residents’perceptions of the opportunities available within long-stay care. Respondentsdescribed the activities, if any, which were offered in their facility, the extent towhich they participated in these and reasons they did or did not participate. Somealso discussed activities they would like to pursue which were not currently onoffer. Staff described the activities within their facilities, their participation in runningthese and their perception of resident participation. Four categories were identifiedwithin this theme: purposeful activity, therapeutic activity, outdoor activities, andmaking activities work.11.2 Purposeful ActivityThis category focused on the way in which activities were structured, the extent towhich residents were consulted in determining appropriate activities and the issueswhich impacted on residents’ participation (Table 11.1). Staff described the activitiesthat were offered within their facility each day. In some study sites there was aplanned provision of activities which changed on a daily basis. Activities on offerincluded painting, bingo, dancing, singing, exercise classes, tai chi, watchingtelevision, cards, scrabble and gardening. These activities were often offered toall residents as a group regardless of interest or capacity to participate. Most of thetime activities were offered within the main sitting area, although a few facilitiesImproving Quality of Life for Older People in Long-Stay Care Settings in Ireland