EQUALITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FEATURE
Fonts are made bigger for those people with visual impairments , and one-to-one meetings are offered to those people with learning disabilities after the sessions .
Smaller handouts with the main points can be given to a client on request , if they are feeling overwhelmed with the content .
Music or video recordings are used as a prop for some topics ; for example , ‘ Waterloo ’ by ABBA was played prior to the group about the Battle of Waterloo , and part of the speech ‘ I have a dream ’ by Dr Martin Luther King Jr has also been used .
Guessing games have been used for some topics , for example : ‘ Who can tell me some of the signs and symptoms of the Black Death ? and ‘ After the loss of weapons at Dunkirk , how many men to one rifle were there for the home guard soldiers ?’.
This will often depend on the topic and varying attendance for those newly admitted for the first week or two .
LGBTQIA + as a topic Sexuality is not a topic you often discuss with the older adult care group , nor is gender identity , but it can be an important and unspoken subject for the older population .
Discussing the Stonewall Riots in the history group on the ward offered a safe space to discuss different members of the LGBTQIA + community and the societal and legal struggles they have been fighting for centuries .
The group initially explored the Stonewall Riots as it reflects a time when persecuted members of society took a stand for their rights and beliefs , and the legacy it created as a result .
The session also covered : what LGBTQIA + stands for ; the many flags of Pride ; current restrictions still in place for homosexual and trans people around the world ( which countries still have laws in place to prevent homosexual acts ); laws protecting LGBTQIA + people ( with reference to the same piece of legislation that protects those with long-term mental illnesses , the Equality Act 2010 ); blood donation rules in place for homosexual men in England ; and further changes needed in the UK to promote equality and protect the rights of trans and non-binary people .
Allowing space for an open conversation about sexuality , we were able to talk about past perceptions and whether this new information has changed their understanding of the topic .
One client felt unable to ask what flags meant what , and what LGBTQIA + stood for when out of hospital , but felt able to ask questions in the group .
Thoughts from clients about the topic included : ‘ It ’ s not right as [ homosexuality ] isn ’ t allowed it in the bible ’; ‘ I didn ’ t realise that all that happened to them ’; and ‘ That ’ s a bit like me and my mental health : not being accepted and being judged .’
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Sexuality is not a topic you often discuss with the older adult care group , nor is gender identity , but it can be an important and unspoken subject for the older population .
shared need .
As allied health professionals , we should not discount the intrigue from our older adult population . Occupational therapists have a role to play in encouraging meaningful community activities and promote social groups when there is a
They may strive to learn about historical concepts , and also concepts of history that have played an active role in making legislative changes that govern us .
The value of shared learning and supported social interaction can lead to positive health outcomes and provide an opportunity establish social contacts whilst admitted onto the ward .
Reference
Parkinson S ( 2014 ) Recovery through activity : increasing participation in everyday life . Routledge , Taylor and Francis Group : London
Rachel Weston , occupational therapist , Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust , email : rachel . weston5 @ nhs . net
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