Active Ageing & Wellness Approach

Supporting Volunteers to take an Active Ageing & Wellness Approach

Learning Objectives

Increase the level of understanding of the active ageing &

wellness approach for staff who support volunteers Identify the benefits of volunteers taking an active ageing

& wellness approach  Increase knowledge & skills to implement key human

resource processes Identify actions/next steps from the session

Share good practice & promote partnership opportunities

Ideas to Implement an Active Ageing Approach: Grid

Recruitment Training & Induction

Supervision & Support Resources & Networks

Active Ageing

“the process of optimising opportunities for physical, social and mental well being throughout the life course, in order to extend healthy life expectancy, productivity and quality of life in older age”

World Health Organization 2002 What helps people to age well?

ASM Principles:

Principle 1: People want to remain autonomous

Principle 2: People have potential to improve their capacity

Principle 3: People’s needs should be viewed in a holistic way

Principle 4: Services should be organised around the person and family or carer; and should not be slotted into existing services

Principle 5: A person’s needs are best met where there are strong partnerships and collaborative working relationships between the client, carer, service providers and organisations

ASM Prepare, February 2010

Slavka

Slavka is 78 She has diabetes and

low vision She has lost a lot of

confidence in her daily living skills

Slavka used to love craft

What would assist Slavka to age well?

Wellness Cycle

Recognise Abilities

Positive Expectations

Opportunities for

development

Positive Experience

Connections in the

Community

Positive Change

www.communitywest.org.au

Benefits of the Wellness Approach

What are the benefits of using a Wellness Approach for workers, clients and volunteers?

• How can we promote these benefits?

Disillusioned You over hear two

volunteers talking

“Now the client’s set up the craft area I don’t think I am needed anymore”

How can you encourage this volunteer?

The Cost of Doing for…….

Ivan starts to wipe down the tables after lunch

The volunteer takes the cloth from Ivan & tells him to rest up

What impact does this have on Ivan?

Barrier to using a Wellness Approach

In small groups discuss:

• What stops volunteers using a wellness approach?

• What are the barriers to supporting volunteers to use a wellness approach?

Barriers to the ASM Approach

Desire to help & do for the client Happy with their current helping role Resistance to change Feel the client is entitled to their help Ageist attitudes - over caring approach Reluctance to attend training Limited resources for training

Peer Panel

Using implementation gridWrite down key strategies/ resources

used by the volunteer & coordinator

Promoting Wellness

In small groups discuss:

• Identify strategies volunteers currently used to promote wellness

• What works well in supporting volunteers to take an active ageing approach?

Roles of the ASM Volunteer: Handout Four

Role Model Observer Monitor Listener Facilitator Guide Encourager Enabler

Emotional Support- The Listener

Peer support Active listening Supporting grief Validating concerns Empathy to move on Building confidence Positive role model

Eyes & Ears of the Team

You notice Ben is really shaky on his legs today

You wonder how he will continue to manage in his home

Sharing Strategies & Ideas:Networking Activity In small groups: Discuss strategies to support volunteers in the

key area you are allocated

Recruitment Training Supervision & support Resources

Ideas for Recruitment

Style of advertising – active ageing Review & assess volunteer role Clearly define volunteer role & how it supports

active ageing/ wellness Update position descriptions to reflect AA Interview questions to reflect Active Ageing Key selection criteria

• Assisting people to stay active, involved & independent

Purpose & Role of Volunteer

“Volunteers help clients to stay active, connected and as independent as possible”

“To assist people living in the community to maintain their independence”

Interviewing Volunteers

What is their motivation for volunteering

Experience with older people to stay active & independent

Their hopes for their relatives & themselves as they age

Training For Volunteers

Incidental training at meetings Lunch & morning tea sessions Buddies & mentors on site training Active ageing articles in newsletters Case studies promoting active ageing Information sessions with allied health

professionals Self reflection about own active ageing Role modelling & demonstration

Questions to promote active ageing

What do volunteers think of as healthy and active ageing?

What are some of the challenges people face as they age?

How can you be mentally active as you age?

Supervision & Support

Ongoing training for all volunteersMentoring by staff & peersAppraisal process Evaluation of client outcomes

Access to care plansInformal & formal proceduresRecognition of good practice

Engaging & motivating Volunteers

Encouraging volunteers in thinking about the ways they wish to age

Engage volunteers in thinking about the benefits of staying active & independent

Utilise current active ageing champions Role modelling ASM across the organisation Encouraging observation of positive changes

in clients e.g. care plan

Activity: Capacity Building

In small groups discuss the person given How can volunteers support this person to build

their capacity

In what ways can volunteers promote Competence – Safety & confidence Connectedness – To feel connected & involved Control – Be autonomous & independent

Ming

Ling is a 75 year old woman from China

She is very physically strong & likes tai chai

Ling’s husband died 2 months ago

She is very sad & lonely

Ling is very good at trivia & used to love dancing

Edith

Edith is 83. She is Jewish She has memory loss Edith is physically strong She has a supportive son She loves helping others Edith enjoys cooking but

is not allowed to at home

George

George is a 78 year old Greek man. He has Parkinson's disease

George has lost confidence following a fall

He used to have his own carpentry business but feels useless now

Capacity Building

Volunteers can play an important role in capacity building by:

Knowing when to stand back & monitor

When to step forward to provide support

Seeking advice from staff as needed