Learning about elderly residential services activities

15 staff members from the Elderly Residential Services have completed a course on elderly residential services activities with 100 more staff members expected to carry out the course this week.

This is the first time ever this course in elderly residential services activities has been carried out locally.

Those who completed the initial course were this week presented with their Accredited Activities Training Assessment Certificates. In all 15 members of staff from the Elderly Residential Services received an accredited award in ‘Planning and Provision of Activities’ presented by Minister for Health Neil Costa who was pleased with the outcome and said the course would help both staff members and service users.

Mr Costa said he it was important to show people what they are able to do, instead of highlighting what they can no longer do.

Also present at the presentation on Monday evening at Mount Alvernia was former Health Minister Dr John Cortes.

The course saw four days of intensive training which took place in April this year. It was provided by INCARE Services, a UK service provider.

The Elderly Residential Servicers consider it vital for both nursing and care staff to provide stimulating activities to residents on a daily basis

“The aim of the course was to highlight the importance of coordinating meaningful activities for service users. Members from the ‘Acivity Team’ and nursing assistants attended the course, which was the first of its kind,” said a Government spokesman.

“This underlines the provision of activities as part of the person centred care provided by Elderly Residential Services.”

This week, around 100 additional members of staff are due to undertake a one day course aimed at supporting Activities Coordinators and to further raise awareness on the use of activities.