A BRIGHT idea has led to a new pastime for elderly patients at Warwick Hospital.
Ward manager Helen Stevenson noticed that the elderly patients with cognitive impairments on Victoria Ward weren’t showing an interest in the activities available, like colouring, and decided to brainstorm what else they could offer.
That is when she came up with the idea of creating bespoke fiddle boards using recognisable objects.
Using household items, the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust’s estates team created transportable boards with a range of familiar objects including locks, light switches, door handles and taps. The boards have proved popular with the patients, who suffer from conditions such as delirium, dementia or memory loss, and the estates team are now looking at making a larger board, fixed to a wall to encourage patients to get up and walking.
Helen said: “These boards have been so well received and they are already making a big difference to our patients. Keeping patients mentally active on the ward is really important, without this they can deteriorate significantly.
“It is great for the nursing staff to be able to take them round to bedsides and encourage interaction. I am so grateful for the estates team creating these boards. They have really shown how non-patient facing staff can make a big difference to the experience of our patients.”
