Health and Wellbeing

WHAT IS HEALTH AND WELLBEING?

There are many different ways to define and understand health and wellbeing, for example as:

• The achievement and maintenance of physical fitness and   mental stability.
• The absence of physical illness, disease and mental distress.
• Being the result of a combination of physical, social, intellectual and emotional factors.

The ideas about health and wellbeing change over time and vary between different cultures and life stages.  However World Health Organization (WHO) defines Health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.[i]

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Wellbeing is an important part of our health. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs defines wellbeing as a positive physical, social and mental state; it is not just the absence of pain, discomfort and incapacity. It requires that basic needs are met, that individuals have a sense of purpose, and that they feel able to achieve important personal goals and participate in society. It is enhanced by conditions that include supportive personal relationships, strong and inclusive communities, good health habits, financial and personal security, rewarding employment, and a healthy and attractive environment.[ii]

Good health and wellbeing bring many benefits for all of us. Healthier people tend to be happier, tend to play an active role and contribute to society and the economy through their families, local communities and workplaces. Conversely, poor health and wellbeing puts a huge strain on individuals, the economy and society.

 

OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING GOALS

In our plan we are working together to promote service users health and wellbeing, we want to invite you to be part of it and help us to promote healthy lives for all our service users.

The service users health and wellbeing goals are:

·         To ensure the highest level of personal hygiene.

·         To reduce the risk of complications of disease through proper care.

·         To promote and maintain functional ability.

·         To promote and maintain safe mobilisation.

·         To promote and maintain independence and social engagement.

·         To contribute to the prevention of numerous chronic conditions.

OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN

In order to succeed toward greater health and high levels of wellbeing we will be developing different activities and strategies over the coming months such as :

           ·         Forming a group of specialists to provide support and advice.

           ·         Creating an infection prevention and control champion.

           ·         Conducting and supervising shadow shifts, buddying up and constant training.

           ·         Promoting and rewarding good practices.

           ·         Understanding and taking into account the suggestions and desires of service users.

           ·         Promoting the role of the Keyworker.

           ·         Contributing to the training and development plan.

           ·         Providing best practice through our Blog and Forum.

LEARN MORE OR GET IN TOUCH

For more information about what we are doing or to get more involved please feel free to contact either of us directly.  You can follow our Blog and Forum posts or contribute suggestions at your Team Meeting or Supervision.

Johanna Garcia – Team Leader & Professional Advisor (Occupational Therapy)

Agnieszka Korpalska – Team Leader & Professional Advisor (Physiotherapy)

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[i] Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.

[ii] Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2010) Measuring Progress: Sustainable Development Indicators 2010,

www.defra.gov.uk/sustainable/government/progress/documents/SDI2010_001.pdf