25th February 2022
Sanctuary Supported Living
Sheffield City Council have extended funding for The Happiness Programme at a retirement living service in Sheffield.
Residents at Sanctuary Supported Living’s Roman Ridge, which has apartments and communal facilities for over 55s, were invited to pilot The Happiness Programme for six months last June, in partnership with Sheffield City Council, care providers and Social-Ability.
The Happiness Programme is the first of a kind service for the dementia care industry, aiming to empower staff to deliver exceptional activities and make people living with dementia happier as a result. The programme is helping to change lives for people living with physical and cognitive challenges. An interactive light projector is used to play games such as Word Search and Snakes and Ladders, to stimulate movement, create a shared experience and enhance emotional well-being. The programme has been a big hit with the residents, and they are over the moon to see the programme extended.
John Ramsay, Founder and Managing Director of Social-Ability said: "We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Sanctuary Retirement Living and we are extremely proud of the impact that the Happiness Programme has had at Roman Ridge after just a few short months. Its interactive games have been specially designed to stimulate cognitive, sensory, and social activity, and it is great to see it help residents have fun together even as the pandemic continues to present challenges. Caring for others should always have at its core a concern to sustain people's quality of life, so we look forward to continuing our partnership with a care provider that understands this so well.”
Sanctuary Supported Living is committed to supporting its residents’ wellbeing, and opportunities for inclusion to reduce social isolation. It’s Your Home Your Life programme was designed to promote independent and healthy lifestyles in an environment which encourages social connections where true friendships can be made.
Ian Troops moved to Roman Ridge during lockdown and was unable to make friends because of social restrictions and isolation. The Happiness Programme collaboration has since changed this for him. He said “It’s amazing for social interaction and we’re like one big, happy family. We have a laugh and forget about our worries. It’s great. The Happiness Programme deserves a medal!”
Helen Flowers, who’s been a Wellbeing and Inclusion Assistant at Roman Ridge for nine years added: “For residents with challenging care needs, like dementia, we’re thrilled to see that they’re engaging with the technology and enjoying their selves - it’s all due to The Happiness Programme”
Roman Ridge offers comfort, independence and peace of mind - everything needed to enjoy a happy, fulfilling retirement.
To find out more about life in Sanctuary Supported Living’s retirement properties, read about our communities, or search for a property near you.
