Harrogate Neighbours 

Harrogate care home harnesses the power of prose.

 

 

A Harrogate care home is nurturing the health and wellbeing of residents by harnessing the power of prose and storytelling.

 

Harrogate Neighbours Housing Association (HNHA) has enlisted the help of former nurse Carmel Flynn to establish a creative writing discussion group for residents at Heath Lodge residential home on Pannal Ash Road.

 

By generating discussions based on a specific theme such as dignity or children, the residents help Carmel create ideas, often drawing on their past experiences, which she then translates into a piece of poetry. The poems are then presented and discussed at subsequent workshops.

 

According to Carmel, who runs The Wellbeing Solution offering a range of therapies based around creative writing, dance and music, such groups can be valuable in a care home setting.

 

She explains: “Many residents do feel an element of isolation when they move into a care home, particularly if they are recovering from illnesses that have knocked their confidence".

 

“By encouraging them to open up and share ideas, they re-gain an awareness of the importance of their own lives and recognise just how relevant the past still is today”.

 

Sue Cawthray, chief executive of HNHA commented: “We’ve certainly noticed a difference among our residents. There was a certain amount of shyness when the discussion group first began, but now the room becomes a vibrant hub of animated conversation and laughter which is fantastic".

 

“There is definitely a wellbeing value in allowing time to reminisce and facilitate conversations as each resident has had an interesting life which is worth hearing. One of our ladies had suffered a series of strokes and was finding it difficult to speak but through the encouragement of others in the workshop she is now more engaged and her speech is improving as a result of having her confidence boosted.”