Care PALS Training

Unlike the PALS training, Care PALS is designed for individuals who are working professionally with older adults in care settings. Care PALs training is delivered over two full days.

Go for Life is the National Programme for Sport and Physical Activity for Older People. It is an Age & Opportunity Initiative funded and supported by Sport Ireland. Go for Life has worked in partnership with Local Sports Partnerships and HSE Health Promotion offices since 2001, to empower older people not only to be more physically active themselves but also to lead their peers in physical activity by training as PALs (Physical Activity Leaders).

Go for Life has seen a dramatic increase in requests to take part in Physical Activity Leaders workshops from those working in both day and residential care settings. Because PALs workshops are designed to meet the needs of independent older adults we felt that they were not meeting all the needs of those working in care settings. So we’ve developed a specific adaptation of the workshops called CarePALs. CarePALs aims to empower those working in day and residential care settings to lead suitable physical activities with older people who live in or visit their setting. This means that physical activity sessions can be delivered by staff and therefore included as part of the daily or weekly routine without cost to the care setting.

The expected outcomes of this intervention are:

  • Enhanced health of older people in care
  • Staff oif care settings enabled to lead Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Sessions for older people with varied levels of ability on a regular basis
  • Increased awareness of social, psychological and physical benefits of physical activity for older people of all ages and abilities
  • Opportunities for those promoting physical activity in care settings to network with peers

Participants do not need to have any background or formal experience in leading physical activities but they must be working in a care setting. Also, their employer must commit to enabling them to lead physical activity back in their own care setting following participation in CarePALs. The HSE is funding these workshops so there will be no charge to participants. Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided. Casual leisurewear and appropriate footwear should be worn.

Participants must be available to attend both day long workshops in full. For further information contact james@claresports.ie.

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