It's my home - Social Inclusion and the Provision of Meaningful Activities in residential care and nursing homes across South Tyneside

Healthwatch South Tyneside visited all their local care homes during 2016/17 to look at meaningful activities and social inclusion. They spoke to 104 residents, relatives and staff.

Overall there was evidence that most were offering and delivering a varied programme of activities with evidence of creativity, passion, innovation and enthusiasm. 

However some residential care and nursing homes didn't seem to be involving and listening to their residents. This was evident from Healthwatch observations and conversations with residents, families and friends and staff. Healthwatch were frustrated that in some homes, providers appeared to be taking the approach that owing to some of the complex conditions and issues for their resident group they could not offer any stimulation for those people and were not endeavouring to do so. Healthwatch appreciates that residents will make their own choices and that capability may hamper making these, but not offering access to choices and enabling choices based on residents past history and aspirations, is not acceptable. 

Healthwatch concludes that there is evidence of a wealth of good practice in terms of meaningful activities offered and initiatives to encompass social inclusion within South Tyneside. Healthwatch were disappointed that the quality of provision appears to vary so much. Healthwatch believes it should be a fundamental right for all residents to have access to quality meaningful activities with the opportunity for social inclusion in any of the residential care and nursing homes in South Tyneside