Exemplar Health Care homes host the ‘Exemplar Elite Games’ to encourage physical activity around the love of sport

A number of Exemplar Health Care homes organised their own Exemplar Elite Games to encourage physical activity during lockdown.

The games come at a time when disabled people are twice as likely to be physically inactive than those without a disability (according to data from Sport England).

Residents at Brook View in Liverpool, Copperfields in Leeds, Ribble View in Preston and St Andrew’s Court in Hull 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.

The homes also organised an opening ceremony to mark the start of the games, and a closing ceremony to present certificates for everyone who took part.

During the week, the homes were transformed into sporting stadiums – with gardens taking the form of football pitches, putting greens and racing tracks, and lounges hosting jigsaw challenges and drawing competitions.

Although the games were played without spectators, our care home colleagues were there to cheer residents on, helping them to say fit and well during this time.

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.”