Community Engagement and Intergenerational Contact

Community Engagement and Intergenerational Contact

Cohort 1

Project title

Promoting Community Engagement and Intergenerational contact within care homes

Aim of the project

To maintain links with local community through intergenerational engagement to foster inclusion and a sense of belonging.

Who was involved

Residents, relatives, staff and Verbal Arts Centre.

My Home Life Tools and Resources used

My Home Life Frameworks, Image cards & Emotional touchpoints.

Quality Improvement Project

• Collaborate with the Verbal Arts Centre and introduce the Reading Rooms programme to care homes involved in the project.
• Establish links with local schools to promote intergenerational contact, and arrange open days to encourage the general public to engage with care homes and their residents.
• Work collaboratively with Linking Generations NI (promotes and supports intergenerational practice across NI) and provide structured opportunities to bring different generations together.

Outcomes

• Older adults experienced increased opportunities for meaningful social interaction, engagement, and connection through reminiscence activities.
• Stronger intergenerational relationships are fostered between students and care home residents.
• Residents benefitted from increased connections and links with local community
• Young people had a greater understanding of dementia and memory difficulties.

Next steps

Technology Facilitated Intergenerational Activity

Project title

Technology facilitated intergenerational activity using InspireD reminiscence app

Aim of the project

The aim of the project was for students in NRC to use the InspireD reminiscence app to build relationships between residents living with dementia to share wisdom, reduce loneliness, and build stronger communities.

Who was involved

Care home residents, relatives, staff and Northern Regional College (NRC).

My Home Life Tools and Resources used

My Home Life Frameworks, Image cards & Emotional touchpoints.

Quality Improvement Projects

• Co-produce with residents, staff and family a training package for students coming to reminisce with older adults living in a care home setting.
• Provide training on to students studying - awareness of cognitive decline, types of Dementias and its symptoms, how to reminisce, topics of reminiscence, training on InspireD reminiscence app, and relationship-centred practice.

Outcomes

• Developed a co-produced training package reflecting the lived experiences and perspectives of residents, family members, and care home staff.
• Older adults experienced increased opportunities for meaningful social connection and developed strong intergenerational relationships with students.
• Residents enjoyed the experience. S
• Staff and families reported residents faces ‘’just lit up’’ when the students arrived.
• Residents talked about memories from the past helped memory recall.
• Student saw ‘’care homes as rich and vibrant places to live’’ and “could learn a lot from older people’’.
• Students were more confidence and developed skills to engage in meaningful conversations with older adults living in care homes.

Strengthening Links Within and Beyond Care Homes

Cohort 18

Project Title

Enhancing community touchpoints both within the home and externally with the wider community.

Aim of the project

Examine the meaning of community within care home settings and in the wider community context.

Who was involved

Care home residents, relatives, staff & Linking Generations NI.

My Home Life Tools and Resources used

My Home Life Frameworks, Image cards, Emotional touchpoints & Magic Wand.

Quality Improvement Projects

• Invite Linking Generations NI to provide training on creating community and intergenerational approaches.
• Develop intergenerational projects with schools to visit care homes
• Work with unused spaces in the care home setting to create gardens for family visits and social spaces for residents. Engage with local retailers to create their vision of a community garden.

Outcomes

• Staff gained insight into strategies for enhancing community engagement within the care home and the wider community.
• Care home staff developed a wider repertoire of social activities e.g. garden spaces, reminiscence, petting zoo, playing alternative music like Bollywood, etc that invites the community into the home and improves links with the wider community.
• Families delighted in observed improvements in resident's wellbeing.
• Reduction in the use of PRN sedatives.
• Improved sleep routine.
• Reduction in falls.

Next steps

Download the InspireD App

The InspireD App is available for download via the App Store or get it on Google Play or alternatively visit the InspireD App webpage

Explore Individual Reminiscence

Cohort 23

Project Title

Explore Individual Reminiscence

Aim

Explore individualised reminiscence in care homes to enhance person-centred care

Who was involved

Care home residents, relatives & staff.

My Home Life Tools and Resources used

My Home Life Frameworks, Image cards, Emotional touchpoints & Magic Wand.

Quality Improvement Projects

• Staff will use the InspireD reminiscence app to collaborate with residents and their families to co-create reminiscence sessions enriched with photographs, music, and sounds.
• A Theory of Change model will guide the project and highlight key drivers such as staff training, family involvement, and resident-led content.

Outcomes

• Observations and early feedback indicated improved communication, emotional connection, and deeper relationships between staff and residents.
• Some reductions in use of PRN medications.
• Some residents shared stories never previously disclosed, reinforcing the emotional and relational value of this approach.

Download the InspireD App

The InspireD App is available for download via the App Store or get it on Google Play or alternatively visit the InspireD App webpage