Elderly Care Resources

By Danny Walsh

Hi, I'm Danny Walsh. I was born in Lincolnshire and trained as a mental health nurse in Yorkshire in the early 80’s. My interest in older adults' mental health and the use of groupwork arose as a response to the lack of good resources this client group traditionally suffered.

My interest has developed and I continue to derive much satisfaction and inspiration from the specialty. Many barriers to good care have been eroded in recent years and there is a realisation that meaningful activity and interaction for dementia sufferers and for older adults per se  is a right.

Outside of dementia, older adults' mental health issues have also, to a large degree, been ignored over the years and there is still a massive need for real change here. I am particularly interested in mental health care in nursing and residential homes, and feel this to be  one of our biggest challenges.

I have written Groupwork Activities and I have another resource on it's way - it is currently being produced and is due for publishing in 2011 so watch this space...

Groupwork Activities The Resource Manual for Everyone Working with Elderly People This manual contains a huge wealth of tried and tested groupwork ideas, covering a wide range of subjects. Danny got the idea to do this after becoming tired of having to draw ideas from many different resources and wished that they could all be in one book! The book is intended as a practical guide, a resource for various groupwork activities which are of value when working with elderly people. The activities are suitable for any group of elderly people, but are particularly rewarding when used within the sphere of old age psychiatry. Groupwork can reduce the sense of isolation that many feel. Participating in regular group activity fosters a sense of belonging and togetherness. It can also: give peer support be an information exchange be an opportunity to take an in-depth look at ourselves and compare this to how others see us combat demoralisation with mutual support increase self-esteem give us a role increase self-knowledge confront dubious or mistaken ideas of reality give the opportunity to learn to trust others help us to realise that our problems are not unique help us to discover alternative strategies increase our independence give us the opportunity to share problems give us the opportunity to learn new and rekindle old social skills provide us with a safe arena in which to practise social skills give us a sense of achievement allow us to take risks in an uncritical atmosphere allow us to practise self-expression safely This manual is well laid out and easy to follow, the activities are well presented and shows how groupwork can be fun as well as therpeutic. This book is suitable for anyone working with elderly people with mental health problems, whether the difficulties stem from dementia, psychosis or neurosis. It is aimed at hospital nurses, community nurses, residential social workers, social workers, care assistants, voluntary workers, relatives and carers. Order Groupwork Activities £31.99 Contents Section A: Setting the scene Introduction, groupwork and elderly mentally ill people Section B: Interaction & self-exploration Busy doing nothing, community group, warm-ups, interaction groups, cognitive groups, on being old, simulation games, horoscopes Section C: Word games & quizzes Word games, proverbs and colloquialisms, quizzes, the world about us, a detailed focus: Britain Section D: Exercise & relaxation Outdoor and indoor games, exercise, relaxation groups Section E: The arts Poetry group, quotations, slides, music, art and craft Section F: Perception & orientation Perception games and exercises, memory games, reminiscence, reality orientation and beyond, a group for the long suffering Section G: Daily living: skills and advice Cookery and baking, beauty and personal care, domestic skills, advice and information, first aid Section H: Parties, pets and getting out Parties and trips, Christmas, gardening, pets Section I: Considerations Groupwork: dos and don'ts, carers' support group, the future and individuality, sources, resources, contacts and DIY

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