The New Culture of Therapeutic Activity with Older People

Once viewed as entertainment, activity provision is increasingly being seen as of therapeutic value and an integral part of quality care practice. This change has been so rapid and far-reaching that many staff teams have been left behind, attempting to address new culture requirements with old culture knowledge.

This book clarifies and illuminates the changes that have been taking place in the field of activity provision over recent years, and offers a guideline to those who are endeavouring to catch up.

Contents include:

• The difference between old culture and new culture thinking and practice
• The new culture from the perspective of:
  • The politician
  • The manager
  • The care assistant
  • The activity provider
  • The researcher
  • The trainer
  • The community worker
  • The activity charity.

Between them, the contributors bring a breadth of experience of the changing culture that spans more than three decades.

This is a vital resource for all staff and management of care settings for older people.

Chapters

• Towards a New Culture
• Developing Culture in its Political context
• The Unit Manager – the key to cultural change
• The Unit Manager – Creating positve influence
• Successful Activity planning
• Critical importance of biographical knowledge
• The Activity Coordinator
• Providing activities in residential care settings – dilemmas for staff
• Activity training in the new culture
• Activity provision and Community care – the Harlow experience
• Activity provision and Community care – the Leicester experience
• Changing a culture – The Westminster project
• Collaborative Networking and Community Development – the way forward NAPA – steering the path from entertainer to reflective practitioner.