Go for Gold Challenge Scotland

“Care… about Swimming” Programme

The story of a pilot project with care homes from West Lothian and Perth & Kinross

Carolyn Wilson Falls Service Manager carolynwilson@nhs.net

Vikki UrquhartKincarathie Housevikkiadams1@

Care Home Swimming Programme • National pilot involving care homes in West Lothian and

Perth & Kinross – Nov 2013

• 6 week swimming programme.

• Trained Swimming Instructors created individualised swimming plans for each resident to achieve their goals.

• Care home staff gained skills, knowledge and confidence to support older frailer residents in the water

• Some care homes now taking residents swimming.

• 8 week programme currently running again in P&K and another being planned for October 2014

National meeting held

Initial seed planted and interest sought from care homes

Meeting with Perth Leisure Pool staff

Tour of facilities and training to carers

Swimming programme commenced

P&K Experience – Timeline

June 13

6th Aug 13

10th Oct 13

5th Nov 13

18th Nov 13

2 training sessions to carers by Swimming Instructor

New 8 week Swimming programme commenced

February 14

19th Aug 14

Development of documentation – Swimming manual, resident profile sheet, evaluation, information booklet

Swimming Programme

Perth Leisure Pool

Practicalities

• Training• Cost• Preparation for Swimming • Support whilst in the pool • Outcomes

TrainingInitial Training • Swimming Instructors highly experienced • Power-point training and tour of pool for carers• Swimming Manual created with information carers need to

know• A4 Photographs of the pool for carer to share with

resident before first visit

• Information booklet for relatives and friends

Additional Training• Carer training provided over 2 weeks in February 14

Cost

• Transport to Pool – provided by care homes

• Every resident accompanied by a carer (W Lothian had 2 carers with some residents)

• Cost - £2.90 per resident• NHS paid Instructors costs• Care home/resident met refreshment costs

Preparation for Swimming

• Disabled access to the facilities• Currently only suitable for residents who

can stand • Changing facilities –1 disabled changing

area and a few family cubicles.• Support to resident when carer getting

changed.

Support whilst in the pool• Identifying suitable pool time • Getting residents into/out of pool• Had the use of all of training pool• Allocated an hour. • Profile sheet so Instructor aware of residents

limitations and also their goals• All carers wear t-shirts • Continence issues• Temperature of water• Storage of shoes, hearing aids etc

Hoist taking residents into pool

This gentleman who finds walking difficult commented “ When in the water I feel like I am

flying – I can move around freely, its exhilarating”

This gentleman who has recently had his leg amputated learned to swim over the pilot using

the one leg.

Effie - 92 - ” I am just so happy, I now know I can go into the water and swim again. I cant thank-you enough. I plan now to go swimming with my friends. I feel young again”

Being Filmed for STV News!

Effie and Karen at the

Award ceremony

Photo shoot for the local papers with the Provost

Swimming Programme – August 14

Effie – now 93 and frailer – still enjoying swimming – came out of pool and said “Have I

died and gone to heaven!!”

Helen and Vikki

Helen with Vikki and

Nicola at the Award

ceremony