Active Care Home Mark FAQs
Our standards start at bronze, with a manageble and acheivable sections to progress through. Click on the + signs to read more about each of our standard levels below:
Active Care Home Mark BRONZE
- Step up - Designate a member of staff to be the setting Live Stronger for Longer champion.
- Focus in - The champion will need to complete Falls Awareness and the Benefits of Exercise Training session as well as Every Movement Matters, Always.
Active Care Home Mark SILVER
- Shout about it - It’s good to celebrate carrying out physical activity in your care setting. Use our poster in your displays.
- Pass it on - 10 members of staff to complete the Falls Awareness and Benefits of Exercise eLearning.
- Make a plan - Of how you will put physical activity or exercise into your weekly agenda.
- Carry out - at least one physical activity or exercise a week, for 4 weeks (please send evidence/pics with consent).
Active Care Home Mark GOLD
- Falls Champion to encourage - all members of staff to complete F.A.B.E, including manager.
- Falls Champion to encourage - 10 members of staff to complete E.M.M.A, including manager.
- Consistency is key - evidence to see physical activity or exercise sessions are being carried out weekly, on a 26 week tracker.
Active Care Home Mark DIAMOND
- Keep it going - new staff to complete E.M.M.A and F.A.B.E
- Track all physical activities - send us evidence that it is still being done every week for the next 26 weeks.
- Write about it - send us a case study for our newsletter.
- Extra diamonds - every year you keep this up, you earn extra diamonds.
Active Care Home Mark DIAMOND PLUS
Diamond Plus is at the Falls Advisors discretion.
Same as Diamond, with optional training in Chair Based Exercise, where required. Application form to be submitted.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Our residents or service users are currently totally inactive. Where should we start?
A. Start small by taking opportunities to build movement into daily routines. Could a chair to wheelchair transfer be turned into a short walk between the two? Can assistance to stand from a chair be gradually reduced to improve arm and leg strength? Try to give at least one of your weekly activities an active focus: build movement into quizzes, put on some music to encourage dancing, or opt for a game like boccia or bowls! Even getting residents involved in activities like crafts or gardening can help to maintain hand-eye coordination and increase overall movement.
Q. How can we find the time?
A. We know that social care staff are busy and always need to put the care needs of service users first, which is why we try to take a very flexible approach to supporting you to increase physical activity levels. Making exercise a part of the activity calendar is one way to ensure that it takes place. Other approaches include the introduction of a time protection scheme.
Q. We don’t have a separate space or special equipment. Can we exercise safely?
A. Your falls prevention advisor will work with you to identify types of activity which can be undertaken safely
and effectively with the resources you have available. Exercises and games can often be adapted for
smaller spaces and different equipment to make them work for you.
Q. We’ve tried to introduce exercise before but residents/service users are reluctant to join in and don’t enjoy it.
A. Not every way of being active suits everyone. We encourage you to be creative and take a varied approach to the exercises you offer, to help ensure that there is something to suit everyone.
The below list makes a few suggestions for the types of activities which can be considered when awarding the Active Care Home mark.
Active Care Home Mark BRONZE
To find out more about the levels and how to apply for this care home mark