Access to regular physical activity for individuals living in care settings is clinically proven be important in maximising physical and mental health and wellbeing, supporting independence and promoting dignity. It can help to ensure what can often be the final 1000 days of life are optimised to experience the best quality of life and health possible.

In Spring 2020, care settings were mandated to close to visitors and minimise social contact to only essential interactions to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Restrictions to external visiting continued for 24 months. This had significant impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals who suffered from reduced social interactions with families and loved ones. Despite the tireless work of care teams and activities coordinators, there was a significantly increased risk of deconditioning for those in receipt of care. Care home residents across North Yorkshire and York were unable to leave their home resulting in reduced opportunity for physical activity outside of the care setting. External activities coordinators were often unable to visit to support activity within the home or in the grounds as per national guidance at the time.

Deconditioning is a significant and lasting decline in the physical function of the body including reduced muscle strength and mobility.

The consequences of deconditioning can be severe and can lead to:

• Falls
• Pressure Ulcers
• Constipation
• Swallowing Problems
• Incontinence
• Depression and deterioration in mental health
• Increased likelihood of hospital admission/conveyance

Deconditioning was identified as a key area of focus for the North Yorkshire and York Place, Health & Care Partnership, Quality & Nursing Team as older adults and those with learning disabilities within the care sector are at heightened risk of prolonged bed rest, a sedentary lifestyle and deconditioning. We introduced a targeted quality improvement intervention "North Yorkshire and York Care Provider Olympics", implemented to support residents and staff to get up and get moving. It aimed to highlight the importance of physical activity and develop a lasting and collaborative culture of movement across care settings.  This programme has annual focus, promoting wellbeing and health creation for those in our care settings. For further information please access our paper here.

NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB in collaboration with partners hosted the second running of the North Yorkshire and York Care Provider Olympics in the summer of 2023- which saw a fantastic 800 individuals from 32 care providers across participate across 6 weeks. Our highlights video from this years competition shows the inspiring work undertaken by providers to support access to activity for all in 2023.

The initiative supports providers to hold their own Olympic style event to promote the health benefits of physical activity to those in your care. We know that by staying active together we can fight deconditioning syndrome- which can result in reduced mobility and muscle strength, confusion, poor mental health and increased risk of falls. By coming together across the region to celebrate and share ideas on how we can keep residents active which is clinically proven to reduce the risk of major illness by 30%.

Our Aims

• Celebrate The Importance Of Physical Activity To Health And Wellbeing Within Our Sector

• Showcase Creative and Innovative Activities, And Share Best Practice Between Providers

• Share Resource And Local Opportunities To Get Moving

• Highlight The Role of Personalised Care- And How We Can Tailor Activity To The Different Abilities And Wishes Of Residents In Our Settings

We're delighted to announce the following providers are our champions for 2023

Older Adults Category

• 1st- Kirkwood Hall (Leyburn)
• 2nd- Sycamore Hall (Bainbridge)
• 3rd- Westwood Care Home (Selby)

Younger Adults and LD Category

• 1st- Sherbutt Residential and Homecare (Pocklington)
• 2nd- The Gravers Care Home (York)
• 3rd- Harrogate Home Support (Harrogate)

We also awarded the below commendations to highlight excellence in care demonstrated during the initiative:

• Staff Achievement Award- United Response York Services. Persevered despite poor weather to host a fantastic Sports Day event in Rowntree Park, bringing together over 50 people from all their services across York to celebrate the importance and benefits of movement for individual with learning disabilities.

• Resident Achievement Award- William Wilberforce (Pocklington). Resident June Camp was a double event winner in this years competition- taking victory winning both the Hoopa and Beanbag/Ball catch events as part of William Willberforce’s fantastic Olympic Event in Pocklington.

• Personalised Care Award- Osborne House (Selby). Members of staff alongside physiotherapy have worked together to encourage and regain resident Bryan’s after confidence with walking again after a serious fall, taking it one step at a time. They set him a personal challenge to walk the corridor to the dining room. Placing a ribbon across the finish line and he rose to the challenge line and walked into the dining room greeted by residents and staff cheering him on

• Excellence in Hydration Award- Rawcliffe Manor (York). The team showcased the importance of access to positive hydration with a fantastic hydration station including berry frozen yoghurt made the day before, ice pops, fresh fruit platter and a summer fruits juice fountain!

• Most Creative Activities Award- St Bernadettes Nursing Home (Scarborough). Hosted over 20 different events and challenges ranging from every from a staff sack race, to an obstacle course, pentanque, darts and skittles highlighting that all movement big or small has big mental and physical health benefits

• Physical Activity in the Community Award- Osborne House (Selby). Celebrated cross generational movement with a visit to Staynor School as part of their Olympic event to connect residents and pupils in a fantastic day full of activity with events including bowls, curling and boccia

We will look forward to seeing providers again for the 2024 North Yorkshire and York Care Provider Olympics

2023 Resources and Olympic Bulletins 2023 Competitor's Guide Event Poster Bulletin 1- Launching the 2023 Competition Bulletin 2- The Importance of Physical Activity  Bulletin 3- Physical Activity and Learning Disability Bulletin 4- Physical Activity and Falls Prevention Bulletin 5- Keeping Hydrated Bulletin 6- Local Opportunities to Get Active Bulletin 7 Bulletin 8 Bulletin 9 Final Medal Table Olympic Award Ceremony Presentation

2022 North Yorkshire and York Care Provider Olympics

Over 600 individuals and 32 providers took part in our 2022 competition, and got moving to highlight the benefits of physical activity for those in our care. We were amazed by the creativity and dedication our care sector put into their events and creating a lasting legacy of activity. Our 2022 winners were:

• Older Adults Category- Winners: The Orchards (Northallerton)
• Older Adults Category- Runners Up: Kirkwood Hall (Leyburn)
• Older Adults Category- 3rd: Abbey Lea Residential Home (Barlby)
• Younger Adults and LD Category- Winners: Sherbutt Residential and Home Care (Pocklington)
• Younger Adults and LD Category- Runners Up: The Gravers (York)
• Younger Adults and LD Category- 3rd: The Botton Community with Ryedale MENCAP (Whitby)

To view our final medal table from the 2022 competition please follow this link

To view the highlights video from the competition including photos from all the competitors please follow this link

To view a recording of our celebration event sharing the achievements of all our providers and announcing the final results, please follow this link.

To see photos from the competition, and our winners receiving their trophies- please follow this link.