The Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument for Occupational Profiling: A Practical Resource for Carers of People with Cognitive Impairment Fourth ... of Bradford Dementia Good Practice Guides)

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leisure activities, therapies, therapy and treatment, activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, dementia; The Dementia Centre is a resource hub of evidence-based tools and content offering guidance on HOW to deliver great dementia care and evidencing excellence through visible staff actions and impact on service user wellbeing. The CLIPPER assessment tool was developed by Jennie Powell (2007). It considers 41 activities that could occur during a typical day. Caregivers note which activities occur, how often, and how the person seems to feel about each activity. The three steps to introducing the philosophy into a care setting are vision, education and implementation. The Eden Alternative UK offers education, national and in-house training and supports staff teams to achieve these steps. A therapeutic approach While individuals may have different views on the use of dolls and children’s toys with people with dementia, it is now widely recognised that dolls can offer a very powerful therapeutic benefit if used at the right time and in the right way.

pool activity level (PAL) instrument for occupational profiling: a The pool activity level (PAL) instrument for occupational

Roe, P. (1998) Let’s talk, Milton Keynes: Speechmark. This includes discussion and prompt cards for use by groups in a range of settings. Bell, V., Troxel, D., Cox, T. and Hamon, R. (2004 and 2007) The Best Friends book of Alzheimer’s activities, vol 1 and 2. Baltimore, MD: Health Professions Press.The QCS Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument is widely used as the framework for providing activity-based care for people with cognitive impairments, including dementia. The Instrument was recommended for daily living skills training and activity planning in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence Clinical Guidelines for Dementia (NICE 2006). It is an essential resource for any practitioner or carer wanting to provide fulfilling occupation for clients with cognitive impairments.

Pool Activity Level instrument to support meaningful (PDF) Using the Pool Activity Level instrument to support

Activities need to be broken down and presented one step at a time, multisensory stimulation can help hold the attention. Hurtley, R. and Wenborn, J. (2005) The successful activity co-ordinator: A learning resource for activity and care staff engaged in developing an active care home, London: Age Concern Books. However, it is not uncommon to find relatives, other older people, managers and staff members resistant to the idea of using dolls, because they think it seems patronising or demeaning in some way for the person, or they are worried about outside visitors’ reactions. The PAL instrument positively shaped my practice as an occupational therapist and continues to do so today. If you support people living with dementia and their caregivers this is the book for you - it combines expertise, with evidence and practical guidance for anyone with an interest in dementia care. Some depend on using a particular practical resource, some emphasise skilful assessment before planning activities. Others promote a programme, philosophy or therapeutic intervention.

Assessment tools

The focus of the approach is on providing meaningful activities that don’t have to be structured but do need to stimulate the senses, encourage participation, boost self-esteem and fulfil one or all of the five universal emotional needs. Assessment tools The Spark of Life Club is an approach developed in Australia which is designed to improve the social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of people with dementia. A number of different approaches within dementia care offer helpful ways to develop meaningful activity and improve quality of life for people with dementia. The Best Friends approach was developed in the mid-1990s by Virginia Bell and David Troxel in the United States. Simply put, the model suggests that what a person with dementia needs most of all is a friend, a ‘Best Friend’.

Pool Level Activity (PAL) Instrument | QCS Digital Pool Level Activity (PAL) Instrument | QCS

Cognitive stimulation therapy, or CST, involves 14 sessions of themed activities which run over a seven-week period. Sessions aim to actively stimulate and engage people with dementia, while providing a positive learning environment and the social benefits of a group. CST groups can be led by anyone working with people with dementia, such as care workers, occupational therapists or nurses, and can take place in settings including care homes, hospitals or day centres. Membership of NAPA also offers valuable discounts on activity products from some key catalogues. Getting involved with NAPA can offer anyone with an interest in improving activities the support, encouragement and training they need to keep going.Agar, K. (2008) How to make your care home fun: Simple activities for people of all abilities, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. At the end of this feature, you can see a list of companies and organisations that produce catalogues of products and resources that could inspire you.