Introducing meaningful activity onto hospital wards for the benefit of older patients

This research was initiated by occupational therapists at St Richards Hospital, Chichester, who were concerned about the decline they observed in some of their older patients. There has been evidence of this for over thirty years, yet the issue does not seem to have been addressed, as a good proportion of this group of patients never regain their former levels of function. Occupational therapists currently focus on Activities of Daily Living (ADL) to prepare older patients for discharge, and believe that if they had the opportunity to engage them in activities which were more meaningful to them, that this might lead to better outcomes.

Project aims

With this in mind, research has been planned in three stages. The first stage has already taken place (started September 2013), the second is planned to start September 2014, and the third stage is currently being developed.

Stage 1: The experience of being an older patient on a hospital ward: engagement in activity during a typical day.

The aims of this stage are to inform hospital staff of how patients spend their time in hospital, and whether they would like to be engaged in more activities of their own choosing.

Stage 2: Investigating the feasibility of introducing meaningful activity onto hospital wards for the benefit of older patients

The aims of this stage are to identify factors which either facilitate or which are detrimental to the introduction of meaningful activity on hospital wards. These factors might include factors relating to patients, staff and the hospital environment.

Stage 3: Comparing outcomes for patients on hospital wards who are given an enhanced programme of meaningful activity with those who have only the standard treatment

The aims of this stage of the research are to compare outcomes, and inform staff providing hospital care for older patients of the outcomes

Project impact

Project findings, output and impact will be updated in due course.

Research team

Dr Channine Clarke,  School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton

West Sussex Hospitals Trust

Surrey and Sussex Hospital Trust

Patient and carer representatives

Output

Research papers leading to presentations and publications in relevant journals

Partners

St Richards Hospital, Chichester

East Surrey Hospital, Redhill 

Dr Marion Martin