No-one understands the benefits of Live-in Care like Helping Hands Homecare. The comfort, familiarity and routine of being in your own environment, of living to your own schedule with personal one-to-one care 24/7 is priceless to the elderly or infirm.
We will refresh this section regularly with stories, articles and ideas to make the comforts of home even more special.
Gaming is not just for Teens
The Nintendo Wii (pronounced ‘we’) is a virtual video gaming console. It sounds like something that belongs squarely in the domain of a teenager’s bedroom rather than home of someone with a Live-in Carer, but you might be surprised!
The Wii is a virtual video game console, where players imitate the movement of the game they are playing. Either sitting or standing, players swing the remote control to play golf, or tennis, go bowling or even have a boxing match!
With the Wii Fit, an add-on to the main console, you can even do some yoga or stretching exercises to promote balance and flexibility. Not only is the Wii great entertainment, but it also can have some health benefits, stimulating body and mind.
Keeping Fit and Active
For many of our Helping Hands Carers, it is an excellent way to encourage our clients to keep fit and active. As Sarah Peskett, a Helping Hands Live-in Care Manager explains:
“Clients may not be able to play 9 holes of golf or a set of tennis in the real world anymore, but in the virtual world, from the comfort of their own living room or favourite armchair, anything is possible! Even if just for 30 minutes, it helps stimulate the mind, gets them thinking and moving, and makes them smile. I know our Carers quite enjoy it too!”
Obviously every client has their own limits as to what they can do physically, but playing on the Wii allows them to test their limits and see what they can achieve. It’s not for everybody though, and you should check with your Carer to make sure that such activity is appropriate for your situation. For example, it’s not beneficial for clients with little or no limb mobility, nor for those with learning difficulties. But for many it provides a welcome distraction and is a welcome addition to the comforts of home.
Stroke Aftercare
For some of our clients, using the Wii is more than just entertainment. There is a growing belief in the medical community that the natural movement that comes from playing a Wii, like throwing a ball or swinging a club, can be beneficial for some in Stroke aftercare.
After a Stroke, many people suffer from loss of movement; they have to re-learn simple movements necessary for simple everyday activities and tasks. Playing sports-based games such as tennis or golf on the Wii can help the rehabilitation process and lead to improvements in mobility, movement and timing.
It’s also far more entertaining than physiotherapy exercises, which are sometimes seen as repetitive and boring, and can be difficult for our Carers to encourage clients to complete! However, a few quick holes of golf or a game of tennis may seem like less of a chore!