This presentation was part of the learn and share events held across the country in March, 2014. The presentation was by Learning for the Fourth Age and looks at the benefits of learning for people in care. Find out more about the Volunteering in Care Homes project: http://www.ncvo.org.uk/practical-support/volunteering/volunteering-in-care-homes Find out more about NCVO's work on volunteering: http://www.ncvo.org.uk/ncvo-volunteering http://www.ncvo.org.uk/practical-support/volunteering/volunteering-in-care-homes

1. Learning opportunities for older people receiving care

2. Older people and demographic change
• Over the last century, average life
expectancy has increased by thirty
years
• This trend is set to continue
• By 2026 the number of people aged
85+ will double and the number
aged 100+ will quadruple
• Adults aged 80+ are the fastest
growing age group
• In 20 years time it is expected that
over 1.7 million more adults will have
a need for some form of care or
support.

3. Older people and care settings
• The Campaign to End
Loneliness (2012): Loneliness
has an equivalent impact as
smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
• An R&R report (2010) showed
that 20% of older people in care
homes receive no visits, letters
or phone calls.

4. “Recreation, social and community activities and personal
development are essential to quality of life for people of all
ages and the benefits to the health and well being among
older people, even in advanced frailty, have been
demonstrated. However, studies suggest that almost 50 per
cent of care home residents’ time is spent asleep, socially
withdrawn or inactive, with only 3 per cent spent on
constructive activity.”
Help The Aged (2006) My Home Life: quality of life in care
homes

5. Benefits of learning for people in care
•Greater levels of engagement/
communication with others
•Development of stronger
relationships between carers and
those being cared for
•Development of new skills
•Improved levels of motivation to
participate in day-to-day activities
•Greater enjoyment of life
•Improved confidence, self esteem
and sense of well-being
•Better physical and mental health
•Increased mobility/motor skills
•Lower levels of depression
•Lessening of incontinence
•Less dependence on medication
•Faster recovery rates
•Better ability to manage pain and
illness
•Increased levels of resilience and
ability to cope
•Maintenance/improvement of
attention, communications and
memory skills
•Reduced dependency on others
•Reduced isolation

6. Other groups who benefit
Care staff
Family and friends
Organisations
“Learning in care settings is one of the
most effective quality of life
sustaining 'vaccinations' against
socio-health deterioration in care
settings. It is a means for people to
remain in the mainstream of
everyday life and its challenges.”
Reduction in medication – “we have seen a reduction in PRM medication
when they’re engaged with you in the activities”
Improved attention spans and recall – “they are remembering more things
for longer periods of time”
Inclusivity and Increased participation levels - “Those who we wouldn’t
think would join in anything have”

7. L4A Volunteers
• We have around 80 volunteers today across
Leicester and Leicestershire
• 85% are aged under 25
• 65% are from BME communities
• Their approach to older people receiving care is
on the basis of shared interests, mutual learning
and equality, rather than as ‘teachers’ or ‘friends’.
• Our volunteers gain as much from their
involvement with L4A as our older people.
• Some have won national awards for volunteering.
“I really enjoy things that involve helping other
people but I find it really rewarding anyway...
[when I graduate...] anything to do with mental
health really or even to do with the elderly and
degeneration and research into that; or like just
working with them. Anything to do with mental
health, illness, well being. It really fascinates
me..” - Quote from one of our student volunteers

8. L4A Volunteers – Case Study
• Layla
I got lots out of volunteering with L4A! I feel so privileged that I
have been able to spend time with such inspiring residents;
listening to their stories is heart warming and I have been
taught pearls of wisdom that will remain with me forever.
Volunteering with L4A has enabled me to develop a wide
range of valuable skills - communication, empathy, teamwork,
organisation and time management to name a few. I am now in
my first year of medicine and already I find myself using my
experiences with L4A to guide me in my learning. Volunteering
offers so much - the chance to give something back to the
community, the opportunity to meet individuals from all walks
of life, a great way of developing confidence. Some people find
it strange that I still volunteer with L4A despite ‘proving’ myself
for medicine. However, I enjoy it so much that it would be
crazy to give it up now, at the beginning of my journey to
becoming a doctor.

9. L4A Volunteers – Case Study
• Gerald and Pat
Pat, aged 87, is a resident of Agnes House and she
had never used a computer before moving in. She
wanted to find a way of recording her memoirs so
Gerald visits Pat every week and is helping her to
write her them using the computer.
Pat, who had never used a computer before says, “I
really enjoy these visits – they are important to
me. Is it great to feel like I’m keeping up to date
with the world and it is great to meet new people.”
Gerald, who has been volunteering since June 2009
says, “It is really great to be involved in this
scheme as a volunteer and to give my time to
such a worthwhile cause. I look forward to the
time that I spend here very much.”

10. Challenges ahead
• Learning through activity
• Learning with dementia
• Funding and resources
• Leadership and management
• Role of Activity Co-ordinators
• Role of care staff
• Role of educators and volunteers
• Role of friends and volunteers
• Engaging with the wider community
• Inspection
• Research evidence
• Need more sharing and learning

11. Short film clip
Informal Adult Learning in Care Settings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsDCs3t
3HHQ
Any questions?