This month we have been game show mad as we have been playing Trinity House's very own Countdown and The Price is Right, popular game shows from the past few decades. At Trinity House, we enjoy playing these games and it gets residents thinking and it always ends in a competition! We have also been enjoying our biweekly visits from Alex the Activity Co-ordinator’s guinea pigs, staff and residents love petting them and feeding them as it's very therapeutic.
Regular game shows take place at our home as we find more residents interacting with these activities as it’s something they have seen on TV before or they already know how it's played and it gets everyone’s brains working thinking about the answers.
Residents spent the morning colouring in guinea pigs during an arts & crafts session and making fruit kebabs and then spent the afternoon with 5 guinea pigs: Panda, Stitch, Astro Hammy and Link. Residents enjoyed feeding them and discussing how they looked and how old they were. The guinea pigs' visits to the home are beneficial as it is very therapeutic just sitting and watching if residents don't want to hold them or it can be relaxing to pet and feed them or enjoy a cuddle. Residents are looking forward to their next visit!
Both of these regular activities bring a host of benefits to our residents. Game show participation promotes mental health in residents as it gets the cognitive side of their brain working and brings out the competitive side in residents which encourages residents to feel a sense of achievement.
Regular Pet Therapy always goes down well with residents as it reduces stress, anxiety and depression and can even lower blood pressure. It can also improve social interaction, communication, cognitive function and emotional support. The positive engagement in these activities means we will continue to offer them within our activities programme for the benefit of our residents.