Beneficial Stimuli
Each activity can provide benefits beyond the function of just participating, which can be classed into two general areas: functional abilities and quality of life.
In the context of functional abilities, a participant that is fully absorbed in a microvolunteering activity, where one does not think about the obligatory activities in daily life, could help in releasing tension or anxiety. On the other hand, quality of life may be improved by participation where a positive influence on life satisfaction and well-being could be obtained.
In the context of care homes, a high level of inactivity in such places has been documented since the 1950′s and continues today. This is despite the evidence that participating in activity can reduce the levels of depression, challenging behaviour, falls and dependancy in care home residents. Indeed, a recent study assessed daytime activities as an unmet need for 76% of care home residents with dementia (Hancock et al, 2005) – Source: Northwest Dentia Centre.
The microvolunteering actions featured in Help From Home can address the problem of inactivity as it allows senior citizens to participate in actions of a ‘do good’ nature, whilts also being complimented with beneficial stimuli that engages a participant in a balance of self care, work and play activities that is essential to a person’s physical and mental well-being.
Each action within the ‘Help From Seniors’ project has been assigned various beneficial stimuli that should help to match an activity to the needs of a senior citizen.
The ‘beneficial stimuli’ covered under this project are:
- Cognitive / Expression
- Hand/eye co-ordination
- Concentration / Memory
- Interpersonal skills / Self care
- Decision making / Self confidence
- Writing skills
- Education
A brief description of each stimuli follows:
Cognitive
Associated with memory, problem solving, logical thought processes, ability to organise oneself and time effectively.
Expression
Expression in the process of making known one’s thought or feelings, either through for example verbally, gesturally, facially or perhaps writing. The ability to express oneself in old age can be affected by diseases, hearing loss, visual impairment, memory depreciation to name but a few, and external stimuli to prevent this ability from falling into decline will be of benefit to the senior citizen.
Hand/Eye Co-ordination
This is the ability of the body to use what the eyes are looking at to direct the hands in motion. Hand/eye co-ordination helps a person to go through the day, performing necessary tasks without stopping to think about them.
Concentration/Memory
Concerned with remembering things and focussing on the activity in hand. Many studies have reported improvement in spatial memory/concentration via mind stimulating activities. For instance New England Journal of Medicine, 2003 found that elderly people who did crossword puzzles four times a week had a risk of dementia that was 47% lower than among those who did the puzzles once a week.
Interpersonal skills
Interpersonal skills are the skills that a person uses to interact with other people. They are also referred to as peoples skills or communication skills and involve using skills such as active listening and tone of voice. It is how well you communicate with someone and how well you behave or carry yourself.
Self care
Self care has been defined broadly as activities undertaken by individuals to promote health, prevent diverse, limit illness and restore health and has come to be recognised as the predominant form of response to illness. Therefore a program aimed at motivating people to take good care of themselves should reap benefits in a senior citizen environment.
Decision making
The human brains ability to process information declines with age. In some decisions, thinking harder about unfamiliar information will produce the best decision, and older adults are likely to fare less well during this process. Source Ellen Peters, Courtesy Professor of Psychology of the University of Oregon.
Self confidence
An unsuccessful life is the number one cause of low self esteem and hence low self confidence in old aged people. They may feel a sense of failure and may often be found talking about how their life got wasted because of a certain reason. Thankfully more groups are recognising the great potential the older generations have in helping to presence our history and culture.
Writing skills
As a person gets older their motor abilities degenerate and become weakened, to the extent that their writing skills become harder for them. Their brain functions may be still sharp but their ability to write well, decreases. It is important to remember that while communications with the elderly may be more challenging, it’s worth the effort.
Education
Taking up learning opportunities at any age can enhance life and general health, although the way information and education is provided to senior citizens may have to be adapted to cater for those with physical disability, language barrier or learning disability, so that positive and healthy outcomes are delivered.