Puzzles are part of all our care homes’ and day care services’ wide and varied daily activities and residents have been proving that whilst celebrating this year’s National Puzzle Day. Our activities are tailored to meet each individual’s likes, preferences, hobbies and interests, and puzzles are a firm favourite.
In Luton at Little Bramingham Farm, taking pole position was the Scenic Road Trip application on the care home’s interactive screen. At Friends of the Elderly Malvern, taking the top slot were traditional Jigsaw Puzzles and, at Colchester-based New Copford Place, residents voted for a top three – Scabble, Word Searches and Memory Puzzles.
Jo Bennett, the General Manager at Friends of the Elderly Malvern, said: “Our residents thoroughly enjoy all types of puzzles; whether they are played in groups, individually, on our large electronic interactive tablet or sat comfortably around a table, there’s always some puzzling puzzle taking place.”
Friends of the Elderly Malvern’s interactive activity tablet enables residents to enjoy, experience and benefit from a wide catalogue of engaging applications. It is a large, easy to use device with a touchscreen, not too dissimilar to an iPad or smart phone, but on a much larger scale.
“For National Puzzle Day, we thought it would be fun to find out our residents’ top three, all time, favourite puzzles,” Jo continued. “ We had three different puzzles drawing for the Bronze Medal position – Crosswords, Code Breakers and Arrow Word. Our residents enjoy doing crosswords either in the newspaper, in a crossword book or on our interactive tablet screen. Code Breakers and Arrow Word are very popular on the interactive screen,” Jo continued.
“Puzzles are a very good pastime for our residents as they can improve mental speed and thought processes – and they are also a positive activity for improving short-term memory. They can, of course be an individual activity, but they are also a great group activity which creates opportunities for engaging with others, chatting and conversations and making friends,” said Daniel Sabau, the Registered Manager at New Copford Place.
Other benefits of puzzles include helping relaxation as, by immersing yourself in a puzzle, it can serve as an exercise in mindfulness and help to relieve stress. For the elderly in particular, the act of picking up puzzle pieces, turning them over and fitting them together can, sometimes, but quite a challenge. However, puzzles are a great way to exercise the small muscles in fingers and eyes.
“Puzzles can, of course be an individual activity, but they are also a great group activity which creates opportunities for engaging with others, chatting and conversations and making friends,” added Karen Charity, Little Bramingham Farm’s Activities Coordinator.
“Our interactive tablet is another example of our commitment to provide exceptional standards of quality care through person-centred care, as all our residents can join in and take part in the group activities or use it on their own. It’s up to them – they can do what they want to do, when they want to do it,” said the care home’s Registered Manager, Emma Lawrance.
To find out more about our care homes or day care services, call 03305 550 378 or email enquiries@fote.org.uk.