Vibrant Communities provide creative arts and dementia experts in your care home every weekday, so you that can do more with fewer resources.
- We provide deep personalisation, aligned with the new CQC framework, through the innovative use of technology.
- For the same price as a single face to face session, our skilled hosts run social groups and events for isolated people in your care community every weekday.
- It’s great for people who are isolated in residential care because they can’t easily leave their bed, or have particular access needs, or don’t relate well to the people around them.
Our hosts facilitate all the live groups and are creative arts and dementia experts. They ensure that everyone can take part in the social groups in a way that suits them best; they get to know them and give them space to contribute and interact with others.
Our hosts bring groups to life and ensure they are a safe, welcoming and fun place to be. All our hosts are skilled professionals with years of expertise working with people living in care communities. But more than that, they are all creative and caring people who love being part of a group of people laughing, expressing, and enjoying themselves.
A space for individuals to shine
Our hosts make it easy for everyone to take part. They welcome people when they join, and make sure they can take part in a way that suits them best.
A good host creates sessions that engage the interest of participants, whilst building in space for them to contribute.
Most events have two hosts who prepare for and run the event – one leads, and the other looks for ways to include and involve everyone in the session.
“It’s vital to watch for opportunities to bring others into the conversation, to respond in the moment to spotlight any participant who has something to offer.” Bob (host)
Nat sometimes hosts our weekly art group for people who enjoy art (we have a few artists too). The art group is a space to talk and learn about art, share opinions and memories, and hear from other people who share the same interest. Although the group is about the art it is about so much more:
“It’s about the art, but it’s also again about making those connections and allowing the residents to talk about their passions, and their memories and who they are as well. So sometimes it’s not just about the art; it’s about facilitating them being able to talk about themselves.” Nat (host)
A space to get to know people
Our hosts build connections with the people who live and work in the care communities, and staff benefit from getting to know the people they support much better.
Building relationships works best when people come along regularly, and the hosts get a chance to get to know them. Our hosts have time to focus and go into detail with people – we hear all about the small stuff:
“It really is about finding out about residents in their entirety, in their full glory. Not just okay we know you like dancing, it’s about the small details you know that make people who they are and make them interesting.” Nat (host)
A key benefit for people working in care communities (apart from the fact that they don’t have to prepare for the online groups) is that they will get to know the people they support much better. They may learn something new about them – the smaller details that are not included in their care plans.
“Staff can know more about the residents and actually have better conversations with them outside the sessions.” Nat (host)
The online events can also provide a theme that staff may like to explore further before or after the live event.
A space for shared experiences
Our group are a shared experience; with a number of different voices heard and shared every time. The groups are not passive or on demand – they are vibrant and interactive:
“ when you learn something new, when you have a chance to relax, to express yourself – whether that’s talking about a memory, sharing an opinion or having a little dance.” Bob (host)
Because everything is online and can be accessed via a laptop or tablet, it is easy to include residents who may not want to join in group activities. For example, people can join from their beds if this suits them best.
Get in touch with Vibrant Communities
If you want skilled experts in your care community every weekday, for the same cost as one entertainer for an afternoon, please get in touch.
Website: www.vibrantcommunities.co.uk/training-offer
Email: join@vibrantcommunities.co.uk
Many thanks to Nat and Bob for contributing to this article.
Written by Sarah Fitsell, Marketing and engagement lead at Vibrant Communities
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