Tournaments, gardening, dancing and fundraising: how Exemplar Health Care’s residents are keeping fit and active during lockdown

Fitness and exercise have many benefits including increasing our mobility, boosting our mood and improving our wellbeing. And with over half of our over 700 residents between the ages of 46 to 65, we have a lot of fun keeping fit and active!

On National Fitness Day 2020, we’re celebrating the huge role that physical activity plays in our care homes.

Whatever your age, there’s strong evidence that being physically active can help you to lead a healthier and happier life. And fitness brings many benefits to both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The NHS reports that people who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing many long-term conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. And research shows that physical activity can boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy.

Our trained Care Teams, supported by in-house Physiotherapists, support people to keep fit and active every day, and tailor activities to suit everyone’s ability levels.

During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, our care colleagues have been finding creative and innovative ways to support people to stay active.

Exemplar Elite Games

A number of Exemplar Health Care homes organised their own Exemplar Elite Games to encourage physical activity – and healthy competition – during lockdown. Residents at Brook View in Liverpool, Copperfields in Leeds, Ribble View in Preston chose a range of activities as part of the games, including a scavenger hunt, jigsaw puzzle, bean bag toss and golf football, as well as additional sporting events for colleagues such as three legged race, ice bucket challenge and a dance battle.

For our residents, it was a great opportunity to socialise with others. John, who lives at our Brook View home in Liverpool, said: “It was fun - it was very fun. I prefer the group activities because you get to talk to people, and have a bit of fun with them.”

Keeping the gardens tidy

Throughout lockdown, our residents have been growing vegetables and flowers, and making our gardens look great.

Ian lives at our Kavanagh Place home in Liverpool, and as a retired full-time gardener, has been keeping fit and active tending to the gardens at the home.

“Gardening makes me feel relaxed and happy,” says Ian, and the Activities Team at the home have also seen the benefits of keeping active outdoors.

"When Ian’s out in the garden, he's very content,” says Scott Davis, an Activities Coordinator at Kavanagh Place. “It definitely lifts his mood.”

Line dancing at the hoedown

Dancing is a great way to have fun and keep fit, and in July, residents and colleagues at our Ribble View care home in Preston saddled up to enjoy a hoedown-themed picnic, complete with hay bales, country and western music and line dancing. They had a lot of fun!

Taking a stand to fundraise for the NHS

Back in June, Adam, a resident at our Greenside Court home in Rotherham, completed a personal challenge of 20 stands from a seating position to raise money for the NHS.

Adam had moved into Greenside Court after having his drink spiked and spending almost a year in hospital. With the support of the NHS and our in-house specialist team at the home, Adam now has full mobility on the right side of his body.

Following weeks of training, Adam achieved 20 stands from a seating position with a device that helps him stand, the Sara Stedy Stand Aid, and everyone at Greenside Court couldn’t be prouder. What a great way to stay active!

About Exemplar Health Care

Exemplar Health Care is a leading provider of specialist nursing care for adults living with a range of complex and high acuity needs, arising from neuro-disability, brain injury, spinal injury, stroke, mental ill-health, physical disability, learning disability and/or autism and complex dementia.

Our community-based homes and OneCare services provide person-centred care and rehabilitation that focuses on maximising independence, building everyday living skills and empowering people to live as fulfilled lives as possible.

We support people on their journey from being in hospital or living in a secure setting to community and independent living, as well as offering longer term support for people living with degenerative or life-limiting illnesses.

Find an Exemplar Health Care home

Exemplar Health Care has over 30 homes across Yorkshire, the Midlands, North East and North West that provide a welcoming and supportive environment where people can feel at home, continue to do the things that they enjoy, and remain closer to family, friends and loved ones.

Find your local care home here, or make a referral here.

Rewarding careers in social care with Exemplar Health Care

If you or someone you know is interested in working in adult social care, Exemplar Health Care offers a range of rewarding careers. Find out more about your career options and our vacancies here.