catriona sudlow
Post on 12-Apr-2017
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Catriona Sudlow
Dementia Friendly Swimming Project
Amateur Swimming Association
Perceptions of Swimming
Challenging perceptions and having an impact
• Value of swimming• Improved insight into motivations, barriers and
perceptions
• Building partnerships between leisure, health and social care sectors• Promoting a culture change
• Creating a network of dementia friendly pools• Enhancing the swimming experience for people affected
by dementia
• Social awareness
Independence Feeling free in water & able to do movements
impossible on land
Social connection Belonging to a
community of fellow swimmers
Once in the water, swimming delivers much deeper rewards
Our audience experience an EQUALITY IN THE WATERthat they can miss taking part in other activities & in life in
general
EmpowermentA time to just feel like
yourself, not your impairment
Relaxation & enjoyment –including relieving pain
On the surface, swimming is recognised to offer relevant benefits:
Less risky fitness activity (low impact) - reinforced by health
care professionals
Collaborative approach
• Promoted a culture change• New work area – increased awareness and appetite to
deliver more specific activities
• Catalyst to building new partnerships between previously non-traditional partners• Health, social care, leisure, housing, transport….
• Raised profile of dementia and role swimming and physical activity can play
• Customer led• Its exploratory and evolutionary rather than
prescribed
Spirit of Manchester Partnership video
3 spokes of DF Swimming
Increasing dementia awareness
• First step – training to increase dementia awareness across leisure providers
• Understanding Dementia in the Leisure Environment• 442 front house leisure staff across 8 areas trained
• Contributing towards Prime Minister Challenge• 166 Dementia Friends created
Accessible, safe and supported provision• Traditional vs non-traditional
• Customer led• Market research with services supporting people living with
dementia• Feedback from participants
• Barriers and motivations• Transport• Availability of support to attend• Water and swimming confidence - perception
• Working to combat barriers to participation• Transport partnerships• Non traditional pool activity sessions
Creating a Dementia Friendly Environment• Innovation – Small changes = big impact
• Common issues• Navigation – signage
• Noise
• Unhelpful lighting – glare on pools and wet surfaces
• Fear of slipping
• Number of accessible changing areas
• Poor use of colour and contrast
• Lack of personalisation
Personal stories
Eachstep Dementia Care Home
Been attending regularly since July 2016
Liz, Assistant Service Manager ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed supporting the ladies and gents at Eachstep to take part in the sessions. It can sometimes be difficult for the people we support to engage with physical activities. However, they have taken to it like ducks to water – no pun intended.’
Feedback and Comments‘Swimming was a new outlet for my
illnesses. I sometimes got fed up with life but my new interests got me out of the
doldrums. My self worth has improved and my confidence has improved. It’s just a
simple swim but it has changed my life. So give it a go – it’s great fun! Thank you and
go for it!
‘I enjoy going. You meet new
people.’
‘I’ve seen an improvement in my general health and
control of other health issues.’
‘Swimming is a very positive activity from my perspective. I see the improvement in mood and mobility it provides to my
supported men.’
‘The experience was very rewarding even if it took quite a long time to get in the pool. The staff at the centre were friendly
and always there to help without asking.’
Where?
And many more…….
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