Competitive spirit was high as residents from four South Canterbury rest-homes duked it out on the indoor bowling mat to celebrate national Diversional and Recreational Therapy week.
At the Timaru Indoor Bowls Stadium teams from Glenwood Home, Strathallan Lifecare Village, Elloughton Gardens and Wallingford Rest Home competed against each other in several games before wrapping up the afternoon with a prize-giving and afternoon tea.
Glenwood home diversional therapist Gillian Allan said it was the fourth time they had held the indoor bowls afternoon.
‘‘It’s a great opportunity for some of our residents to meet with other friends that they’ve got in other homes, because obviously not everyone can live in the same home together.
‘‘It just gives them a little bit of a buzz and they get a little bit of a challenge going on and think that they need to win.
‘‘For a while we were doing it at Christmas time, but Christmas was becoming a bit busy, so we decided to bring it back to September with Diversional Therapy week.’’
She said a lot of people had probably never heard of diversional therapy.
‘‘There is an incredible group of about 14 of us in South Canterbury that do this job. Back in the ’80s, they never had it,’’ she said.
‘‘We try to extend residents with quizzes and things like that in the mornings, we’re doing exercises with them to keep them mobile, and keep them going as much as we can.
‘‘Some of us actually do exchanges, we go to each other’s homes as well and meet up for activities.’’
The residents’ happiness was key.
‘‘If we can make them smile, we’ve achieved something. All we’re trying to do, is put a smile on their face and help them enjoy and fill in their day.
‘‘It’s a very satisfying job.’’
