Care provider Runwood Homes has signed up its Essex homes to participate in Essex County Council’s Winter Deconditioning Games initiative.
The homes will be given pedometers for residents and staff who wish to take part to see how many steps they can clock up to encourage more movement.
Homes will be given a walk round Essex map with points of interest that the home can strive to complete and can also plot their progress.
The idea is to encourage movement, maintain functionality, promote independence and engage residents in striving towards a goal, no matter how big or small.
The initiative will also play a key part in supporting the mental wellbeing of residents.
Each week, homes can send their total steps to the Essex County Council, where the top three homes with the most steps will receive a certificate and a prize.
“I think this initiative is a fantastic way to promote movement and keep our residents active, which is so important for not only physical health, but wellbeing too,” said Runwood Homes associate director of dementia services Kieun Kwon.
“I have signed up all our homes located in Essex and am really looking forward to seeing them all take part,” she added.
