Encouraging and Promoting Physical Activity Amongst our Older People
Rise and Shine was created to encourage a fun approach to physical activity on older person’s inpatient wards, giving them an opportunity to take part in some physical activity when they are ready to prevent Hospital Acquired Deconditioning (HAD), in a fun, sociable way. It is primarily aimed at older hospital inpatients and care home residents.
The game helps patients maintain and improve their mobility | |
The game fosters a more positive atmosphere by boosting morale for both patients and the staff who assist them |
A significant challenge in hospitals is the decline in mobility experienced by elderly patients. This inactivity can lead to complications and extend hospital stays. To address this issue, the Rise and Shine game was created, offering a fun and effective way to keep elderly patients healthy and active.
Patients participate by selecting a tile featuring an illustration and a description of a physical activity or cognitive challenge tailored to their individual abilities.
These activities might involve simple stretches, walking a short distance, or completing a memory game. Once they’ve completed the chosen activity, patients deposit their tile in a designated box. A touch of friendly competition is added by randomly selecting a winner who receives a small prize.
The Rise and Shine game goes beyond exercise. The use of game mechanics like selecting tiles and winning prizes fosters a sense of engagement and enjoyment, making physical activity more appealing for patients. Furthermore, the brightly coloured illustrations created by a local artist add a cheerful element to the hospital environment.
The benefits of Rise and Shine are multifaceted. Most importantly, the game helps patients maintain and improve their mobility, potentially leading to a faster recovery and shorter hospital stay. Additionally, the game fosters a more positive atmosphere by boosting morale for both patients and the staff who assist them. Early feedback indicates that Rise and Shine is achieving its goals, with both patients and staff reporting a more positive experience.
“It has been our pleasure to provide a range of business services to the Trust, and the innovator, to support the development of this wonderful game, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this innovation will make to patient experience.”
Victoria Christie, Associate Director at HI NENC
“Feedback from Patients and staff has been really positive with patients saying that it relieves boredom and gets them laughing. They have suggested other ideas of fun things to do since its introduction.”
Gail Tunstall, Quality Improvement Facilitator
The success of the initial pilot program has led to the rollout of Rise and Shine in elderly care wards across a hospital trust. The long-term vision is to make the game available nationwide in hospitals and care homes.
Funds generated from sales will be reinvested to support further initiatives aimed at improving the care and experience of elderly patients. By combining innovation and fun, Rise and Shine offers a promising solution to a common challenge, promoting the well-being of elderly patients during their hospital stay.
Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria assisted South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust with protection of the associated intellectual property, which facilitated commercialisation of the game.