New Channel 4 programme shows one way to make life better for elderly

The new Channel 4 series ‘Old People’s Home for 4 year olds’ demonstrates how social contact with younger people creates leaps in the quality of life of elderly people.

“It’s brilliant to see the huge boost in wellbeing older people on the Channel 4 programme are experiencing. This is something very close to our hearts,” says Ben Allen, who this week became one of Care Home Professional’s 2017 annual Leaders In Care in the ‘Innovators in Care’ category.

“At our social enterprise Oomph! Wellness wellbeing involves empowering older people to live their life in full colour, so they can pursue new, as well as old, hobbies and passions, alongside improving physical and mental with adaptable fitness classes. We are making huge strides in transforming wellbeing this year, with 60,000+ classes and outings for care home residents.”

The Channel 4 series has found, from a sample group of older people’s home residents, that:

1/3 exhibit some signs of depression
9 out of 10 find life unexciting
1/2 fell hopeless about the future

News reports in recent weeks have also shown the upsetting variability of standards within the UK care home sector.#