Care home residents craving outdoor exercise start Captain Tom inspired walking challenge

A care home's residents are exercising outside like Captain Tom with a garden-walking challenge for charity to counteract the 'debilitating' impact of months of lockdown.

Staff at Cramond Residence in Edinburgh have set a challenge for residents, giving them the month of September to get into shape by walking around the care home's garden to raise money for the dementia charity Alzheimer Scotland.

Care workers hope the attraction of ‘doing their bit’ for Alzheimer’s Month will encourage the residents to 'shake off the debilitating effects of five months in lockdown' and walk as many laps of the garden as they can in September.

The residents' challenge has been partly inspired by the story of former British Army Captain Tom Moore. His garden walks during lockdown led to him raising more than £32m for the NHS.

Lisa Sohn, lifestyle coordinator at the 74-room care home, said extensive research has shown how older people are adversely affected by periods of inactivity, suffering accelerated muscle loss.

Lisa Sohn said: “It’s a vicious circle. The more inactive an older person it is, the harder it becomes to get them back into a good place. We’ve done everything we can to keep our residents active here, but we’re hoping this new challenge will really make a difference.

“We are lucky to have beautiful gardens at endlink** so we’ve come up with a plan to mark Alzheimer’s Month throughout September, encouraging our residents to walk as often as possible.

“All of our residents followed the story of Captain Tom during lockdown, so we’re hoping that will also help inspire them. Happily, most of them are champing at the bit to get back out walking outside and the garden walks will be one of our major focuses throughout September.”

The care home's walking challenge will culminate in a fundraising day on 30 September, with residents finishing doing as many laps of the garden as possible.

“Everyone here has a vested interest in this. Not only is it a great way to keep our people in tip-top condition, but we all know residents who have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. This lets us all do our bit to fight this terrible condition.”

Care home's 'houses' helped protect residents

Cramond Residence care home can care for up to 74 older people.

The care home says it maintains a care staff to resident ratio of at least 1:4 at all times and promotes a small-group living philosophy.

That means groups of eight rooms form distinct ‘houses’, where residents are encouraged to eat and socialise together.

The care home says these houses are “played a major role in successful infection control” during the coronavirus pandemic to date.

click here for more details or to contact Cramond Residence