Connecting Care Homes and Communities

LGNI are very grateful to have secured funding from the LFT Charitable Trust for a care sector pilot project working in partnership with three care homes during 2021/22.  In the midst of the Covid pandemic and in response to the increasing isolation of older people in care homes and the staff themselves LGNI saw the opportunity to build intergenerational capacity within the settings themselves.  We wanted to empower care settings to take the lead on developing intergenerational connections in their communities that kept residents connected in a safe way to the outside world.

LGNI’s approach was to work alongside 3 Care Home Settings to build intergenerational capacity through training, provision of staff expertise/support, resources, a small activity budget and connection to one another via peer support zoom sessions.  All 3 settings took part in LGNI’s CPD Accredited training delivered via Zoom and over 3 modules, were provided with LGNI’s draft intergenerational toolkit for care settings, an activity budget and joint/one to one support calls to develop their connections.

By connecting the settings and their staff with LGNI's intergenerational expertise, best practice examples and CPD accredited training we have increased their capacity to develop and implement their own intergenerational work, increased their knowledge and confidence, connected them to their peers and supported them to develop intergenerational links in their communities.  Although the project was challenging due to the impact of Covid we were inspired by the dedication and enthusiasm of our care partners.  We aimed to create sustainable intergenerational connections that support the achievement of care home standards and hope these can be further embedded and sustained in their settings throughout the year and future.

An important element and legacy of the project is the development of 'An Intergenerational Practice Toolkit for Care Homes & Settings' which LGNI will use to develop our work further with new settings.

To mark the end of the Connecting Care Homes and communities year long pilot project, Linking Generations NI invites you to join our online event

The Story so far … Sharing the learning event

Tuesday 28^th June 12.00 – 1.00 p.m. via zoom

Please register to attend here  https://forms.office.com/r/CPXDapsGr8

and a zoom joining link will be forwarded nearer the time.

Our enthusiastic settings are Rose Lodge Lisburn, Phoenix Healthcare Clinic Newtownards and Newcroft Lodge, Holywood.

The story so far:

• In August 2021 our 9 participants from the 3 Care/Nursing Homes completed their 3 intergenerational training sessions check out our news item here
• All have received the LGNI Intergenerational training manual, Care Home DRAFT toolkit (this will be printed up at end of project when feedback on content has been gained) and Care Homes Good Practice ‘Do’s & Don’ts’ Guide that were used during training and can be referred back to.
• Our LGNI Christmas Resources
• See the latest update on activities as of February 2022 here

LGNI continue to be in regular contact to offer support and advice via one to one and group virtual meetings, so they can successfully embed intergenerational connections and good practice in their settings.

Due to the success of this project and the resources and learning developed LGNI are delighted to have been able to offer bespoke training to another cohort of 5 Care Settings!

Watch this space for more updates on this project or contact Lynne.bennett@bjf.org.uk for more information!