REINVENT
COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Exercise and health projects in Hertfordshire

May 2010 saw the launch of a year long pilot to introduce exercise therapy
into Older Peoples Mental Health Units. Warwick Wyatt has been commissioned to develop and deliver exercise programmes for both functional inpatients and to people with dementia at Seward Lodge in Hertford. The aims of the pilot are to: Improve mobility for individuals, increase limb co-ordination, increase muscular strength, prevent falls, increase well being, socialisation and group interaction, promote an active environment, to increase and expand the range of therapeutic treatments and providers delivering interventions.

At this early stage of the programme, both staff and residents at Seward
Lodge have already reported some successes and increased learning. There
is a need for staff to devote sufficient preparation time to prepare the service
users and brief the instructor prior to the class commencing.

It was thought at the outset that different groups would need to be run for
functional inpatients and people with dementia, but this has not proved to
always be the case. Both groups of inpatients have participated jointly in the
planned sessions. The interaction between functional and dementia service
users has been beneficial. Group morale has risen as service users
encourage to motivate each other to participate and complete the exercises.
Movement patterns have improved and the concentration of service users on
listening to the instructor continues to develop and improve with each session.
The pilot is still in its infancy there will be further updates on how this pilot
progresses.