Lockdowns can get stressful for your participants, especially when all routines change due to a lack of community access. When lockdowns occur, it doesn’t mean all activities should cease; this is the time for support workers to get creative!!! Skys the limit. You will find some tips below to get you motivated.
Bay One Care Services employs me as a Community Support Worker and Programmes Officer.
Before working at BOCS I served as a corrections officer for over 28 years. During this time, I also worked as Programmes and recreational officer.
I received awards regionally and globally for innovation creating activities /programmes for keeping the peace within the hostile environment during lockdowns.
I like the mission statement of Bay One Care Services:
“OUR MISSION IS TO ESTABLISH SUPPORT, DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, AND PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICE THAT WOULD ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO CHOOSE AND CULTIVATE THEIR POTENTIALS.”
With my experience enduring different types of Lockdowns situations such as the Army, Prisons Aged Care and Disability, we have discovered ways to make participants feel normal despite being under lockdown.
Before engaging in any kind of activity, ensure it is safe for you and the participant.
Bay One Care Services provide various activities in house programmes during lockdowns such as:
- Venturing out to a nearby park and getting fresh air.
- We are using BOCS mobility van for a road trip within the allocated restriction area of lockdown, stopping for a treat at drive-through takeaways.
- Karaoke, using free apps and choosing the Participants favourite songs. Youtube is excellent, with a vast library of karaoke songs. Get creative use a tv remote or spoon as a microphone.
- Have a fashion parade!! Trying out outfits from the wardrobes engaging the participant. Having a fashion parade (catwalk) even if we need to facilitate this activity using wheelchairs or motorised mobility with the Carer’s leading.
- GET the participants involved in the kitchen. The kitchen area is full of activity at BOCS. Small things such as putting tea bags in a cup for afternoon tea, loading the dishwasher, kneading dough for pizza, preparing the table, mixing ingredients for baking cookies can mean so much to the participants.
- Create short videos of your participants acting out their favourite movie scenes using your mobile phones. Do not share on social media unless you have approval from the participant or their families.
- Indoor games such as Bingo, Charades, bocce and bowling.
- Painting is super fun! Get creative! Incorporate actual flowers, branches and leaves in the painting.