GET UP GET DRESSED GET MOVING Patients at 45 hospitals get up, get dressed and get moving!
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total of 45 wards in acute hospitals across Ireland took part in the first national ‘Get Up Get Dressed Get Moving’ 60-day challenge. There were over 50,000 patient interventions to encourage patients to get up, get dressed and get moving. It was an opportunity to educate and support patients to become more functionally active during their hospital stay. A series of webinars were run throughout the challenge to increase staff awareness of hospital acquired deconditioning and how older adults can be supported to maintain their functional independence while in hospital. Prof Brian Dolan shared his learnings from the #endPJParalysis campaign. A number of HSE colleagues contributed their expertise - Peter Ward, Senior Physiotherapist, Beaumont Hospital, Aileen Horgan, Nurse Manager, University Hospital Cork, Kieron Connolly, Acting Senior Physiotherapist, St James’s Hospital, Emma Grant, Senior Dietitian, Waterford Integrated Care for Older People and Danielle Reddy, Senior Occupational Therapist, St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny. Feedback included, “I feel it empowers the patients to keep their independence”; “It’s something small that can make a big difference to the length of time a patient has to stay in hospital”; “Getting dressed into day clothes can help patients to feel better in themselves and help them to maintain their normal daily routine.” Data from the challenge is being analysed with support from the Health Pricing Office. The results will be shared in the summer edition of Health Matters. ‘Get Up Get Dressed Get Moving’ is an initiative of the Office of the Nursing & Midwifery Services Director and the National Health & Social Care Professions Office. Resources to run the GuGdGm challenge within your ward are available at: www. hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/olderpeople/get-up-get-dressed-get-moving
POCKET-SIZED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES MAKING A REAL IMPACT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Stemming from the need for an accessible tool to support young people in adapting to the various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of students from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla, Co Clare came up with the bright idea to create just that. The aptly named ‘I-Can’ project is an innovative mental health tool, aimed at supporting the well-being and resilience of young people. I-Can is a pocket-sized tin that contains daily mindful activity cards, as well as encouraging messages and a QR code which when scanned, brings you to a bank of additional mental health resources and activities hosted on the Tusla website. The project was funded through a Tusla Child and Youth Participation initiative and was developed in conjunction with HSE Primary Care Psychology in Clare, St Joseph’s Secondary School, and Tusla’s Clare Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS). This project is a brilliant example of how young people can participate and make an impact in their own lives and the lives of others. The team looks forward to seeing how much further they can take the I-Can Project and spread this message of hope and resilience amongst young people in Ireland.
Susan Quain, Assistant Psychologist (front row, second from left); Eliza Walsh, Assistant Psychologist (second row, far right); and Tusla PPFS Team: Aine Mellett, Senior PPFS Manager, Tusla (third row, far right), Aisling Mulhall, Senior CFSN Coordinator, PPFS, Tusla (front row, second from right).
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