The Crieff Dementia Friendly Health Walk, which started in April this year, now welcomes over 20 people every Thursday, who meet at the Royal British Legion, to walk and talk together with staff from Richmond House care home.
Two walks are offered, lasting either 20 or 50 minutes, to help keep adults active. Now, with the end of Covid-19 restrictions care home residents can join in too. Currently, staff are working on a one-to-one basis to help residents become familiar again with traffic and other pedestrians since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions prevented their participation in community activities.
A collection of five video case studies share how walking can place care homes at the centre of their community by using staff expertise and provide meaningful activities to support improved physical, social and mental wellbeing.
Richmond House Principal Officer, Colin Crawford talks about the benefits of care home staff leading Dementia Friendly Health Walks where everyone is welcome to meet friends, spend time outside and share a cuppa together.
Tom Handy is a former Post Office employee and lifelong Crieff resident who joins the weekly walk as it gives him the chance to remain a part of his community throughout his retirement.
Since Richmond House staff took part in the award-winning physical activity programme - Care About Walking - with Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership, they are making physical activity a key part of every residents' day.
For example, they are supported to go for a daily walk in the garden, take part in strength and balance exercises and try a range of stimulating activities such as potting flowers or making a salad from garden-grown lettuce. Residents Joan and Elma talk about how much they enjoy their time outside in the home's garden.
Richmond House, Activities and Wellbeing Coordinator, Suzie Kelly sees how residents get a sense of achievement from walking around the garden grounds.
Ian Hutton, Live Active Leisure, Health and Wellbeing Manager who supports Health Walks across Perth and Kinross thinks working in partnership is an effective way to deliver local health and wellbeing solutions such as free Health Walks.
Find out more about Crieff’s Dementia Friendly Health Walk which is delivered in partnership with Live Active Leisure's Stride for Life programme.
Find out more about how Paths for All supports walking and physical activity in care homes, including Strength and Balance exercises.
Visit Richmond House’s Facebook Page to find out more about their activities.