Flourishing: Creating Evidence-Based Activities Programmes

Written By Louis Manahan

The Flourishing Programme is run by Engaging Dementia to help healthcare professionals thrive in their current environments. Its key goal is to provide access to new strategies and practical resources based on music and nature to assist you in creating group and individual activity programmes for your residents.

As qualified Social and Therapeutic Horticulturist, Joyce Fitzpatrick has been setting up garden spaces and activities programmes for hundreds of residents in nursing homes in Ireland for the past 20 years. Throughout her career, Joyce has researched and witnessed the different ways in which nature and music can help people in developing and maintaining cognitive and physical resilience and self-esteem. 

 

The Flourishing Programme consists of three elements:

1.    Monthly recorded videos in which Social and Therapeutic Horticulturist, Joyce Fitzpatrick, provides a wealth of knowledge and resources surrounding a new, dedicated theme. Each video is 45+ minutes long and the list of themes can be found below.

2.    An invitation to a monthly discussion workshop centred around the video’s theme. Here you can ask questions, gain new insights and network with fellow healthcare professionals. 

3.    An invitation to live Mindfulness Sessions lead by instructor Niamh Bruce who will guide you in using visualisation and connection to the present to boost resilience and well-being. Niamh will link the sessions into the month’s theme, allowing you to explore the topic on a new level. 

Featured
8) Flourishing Programme November 2022 - Finding Delight and Awe in the Mundane
8) Flourishing Programme November 2022 - Finding Delight and Awe in the Mundane
Flourishing Programme November 2022 - Finding Delight and Awe in the Mundane
7) Flourishing Programme October 2022 - Nature the Inexhaustible Giver
7) Flourishing Programme October 2022 - Nature the Inexhaustible Giver
Flourishing Programme October 2022 - Nature the Inexhaustible Giver in this session Joyce discusses the importance of caring for yourself as a caregiver. The challenges you might face and how to ensure you rest and recharge. Learning to take a break before running on empty, relax when we can, and preparing ahead of time to create future ease.
6) Flourishing Programme September 2022 - Feeding the Soul by Nourishing the Earth
6) Flourishing Programme September 2022 - Feeding the Soul by Nourishing the Earth
7th of September 2022: Feeding the Soul through Nourishing the Earth. In this session Joyce talks about the importance of meeting the needs of older people and keeping care and gentleness at the forefront, much like we must tend a garden year-round.
5) Flourishing Programme July 2022 - Getting Through like the Bees and Butterflies
5) Flourishing Programme July 2022 - Getting Through like the Bees and Butterflies
6th of July 2022: Solving Challenges and Getting Through like Bees & Butterflies This session explains some of the responsive behaviours we may come across with our clients and as well as encounters we find challenging.
4) Flourishing Programme June 2022 - Water for Life, Health and Magic
4) Flourishing Programme June 2022 - Water for Life, Health and Magic

1st of June 2022: Water for Life, Health and Magic

In this session Joyce discusses the importance of water in our lives and gives examples of how we can use it as a starting point for various topics of reminiscence and retrospection. We look at biodiversity and where we can get charts, posters and other resources to bring to our activities to engage our clients. Joyce gives us an extensive list of blue flowers and plants to inspire gardening and flower arranging sessions. We also get a list of songs and poems around the session’s theme and Engaging Dementia have created a Water themed playlist you will have access to.

Many suggestions on how we can use water indoors and outdoors to promote movement and cognitive stimulation are also given.

3) Flourishing Programme May 2022 - Finding Inner Calm and Resolution in a Flower Garden
3) Flourishing Programme May 2022 - Finding Inner Calm and Resolution in a Flower Garden
4th of May 2022: Finding Inner Calm and Resolution in a Flower Garden This session opens with detailing the biological and psychological benefits of being outside as well as the recommended amount of time to experience nature, and alternatives if we can't get outside.
2) Flourishing Programme April 2022 - Sowing seeds of hope and happiness daily
2) Flourishing Programme April 2022 - Sowing seeds of hope and happiness daily
6th of April 2022: Sowing Seeds of Hope and Happiness Daily This session focuses on preparation and planning. You will learn the foundations needed for successful activity planning and how to advocate for person-centred engagement. The PAL assessment tool is introduced and more than 20+ ideas for nature and music activities are given.
1) Flourishing Programme March 2022 - Restoration & Renewal, your dawn chorus
1) Flourishing Programme March 2022 - Restoration & Renewal, your dawn chorus
2nd of March 2022: Restoration and Renewal, Your Dawn Chorus! In this session the effects of general isolation as well as the challenges Covid lockdown poses are listed and discussed. Joyce explains the 4 keystones of Flourishing and its value in our lives. Academic research on the benefit of nature to healing after distress is be presented.
Louis Manahan
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