L4A

We work with older people receiving care across Leicester and Leicestershire

Projects

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A Fond Farewell to Musical Care Homes 

We launched an exciting project as part of Leicester Ageing Together in 2015 called Musical Care Homes. It was designed to reduce the isolation, loneliness and boredom some older people feel through the use of music.

L4A worked in partnership with Soft Touch Arts for this 18 month long piece of work. We have created a short film to highlight the successes particularly for the older people involved, including those who have dementia, which you can view by following the link:

CLICK HERE FOR FILM LINK

Active participation in group music-making has been found to impact positively upon physiological and psychological health, to increase happiness amongst individual members and to contribute to enjoyment, personal development and empowerment. Contrary to what some people believe, musical development and progression are entirely possible for older people. Researchers have tested musical aptitude amongst people over the age of 65 and have concluded that capacities for musical development are maintained with age.

More information about Leicester Ageing Together can be found on their website here where there are lots of exciting activities underway for older people across Leicester to support independence and tackle loneliness.

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B is for ‘Baking’ – our A to Z of social prescribing continues

Paul Bagworth loves to bake and his legendary Rocky Road recently sold out like… erm, hot cakes!

Paul baked and donated the sweet treats to sell on Learning for the Fourth Age’s craft stand at the Evington in Bloom May Day sale. He raised £23 pounds for his chosen charity, The MS Therapy Centre in Leicester as a result.

MS Therapy Centre Manager, Jo Hill commented, “This is wonderful news and typical of Paul’s very giving nature. As a self–funded charity every penny counts, enabling us to provide much needed therapies and support to people from across the city and county. We really appreciate Paul’s donation and thank L4A’s Social Prescribing project for supporting his talents.”

Paul is indeed a man of many talents and for those who know him, also has a wonderful sense of humour. In partnership with L4A he’s planning a special publication for Downing Drive GP surgery, entitled ‘Paul’s Pick Me Ups’ aiming to raise a smile with patients in the surgery waiting room.

This work is part of L4A’s Social Prescribing project. The idea of social prescribing is that the cure for many modern ailments may be more than just medication and so the project uses learning or volunteering as the medium to engage isolated older people in their communities.

Our A to Z of social prescribing aims to capture the full, varied and vibrant lives of older people with whom we are working over the course of the two year project. This project is part of and funded by Leicester Ageing Together. More information about this programme of work can be found here.

To find out more or to get involved, Anita Barrand can be contacted via email anita.barrand@l4a.org.uk or on 07964 091 693. More information be found about our Social Prescribing project here.

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Baking a Difference… update so far!

Baking a Difference is an exciting, innovative new trial project from Learning for the Fourth Age, in collaboration with local community business Planet Leicester Bakers. It uses the many activities and skills involved in hand making fresh bread. The project is being developed in two care homes and a sheltered housing setting where L4A already works.

So far we have been delighted with how well the activities have been received and the many smiles it has brought to residents’ faces! Each programme is four sessions long and is being adjusted to be as interesting, challenging and achievable as possible for all who would like to take part. We’ve done scientific experiments with gluten and yeast, shaped different breads, and had a lot of fun with sprinkles and decorating techniques! At the end of the programme we gather all the photos together and the residents create displays of their work to show visitors and relatives what they have achieved.

The sessions also give people the chance to talk about memories of bread in their lives and the 1970s bread strikes are definitely a strong memory. Where residents have limited physical abilities we’ve noticed that they enjoy watching and reminiscing or taking part with support from volunteers. However much they get their hands sticky, residents’ attention has been held for the full length of the sessions: a hugely positive result.

There is lots of choice given to residents as to what they want to do and work with and even those not sure about the activities at first have eventually become involved and enjoyed the simple joys of working bread dough and creating something unique and special to them. Indeed, the physical action of working bread dough has, as is so often the case, proved to have therapeutic qualities. Residents have enjoyed eating freshly baked bread, brought in by Planet Leicester Bakers and sometimes shaped and baked during the session, resulting in the lovely aroma of fresh, real bread in their homes.

As always the work is dependent on the support of staff at the homes and we have been delighted with how positive people have been about the project. It certainly has shown that fresh bread has the power to bring calm and smiles to people and their communities.

For more information about Planet Leicester Bakers, please contact Michelle Stratford, the Founder of Planet Leicester Bakers or visit their website: www.planetleicesterbakers.co.uk