Helping Jack get moving again: Helen’s Zest Wellbeing story

One of my favourite parts of Zest Wellbeing is creating personalised exercise plans for residents.

Alongside our group physical activity sessions, we can create individual plans for residents who have specific needs or goals. This could be improving strength and balance, increasing mobility, reducing the risk of falls or supporting someone living with a particular health condition.

The plans are always based around the resident’s ability and can be reviewed and progressed as they become stronger and more confident.

For me, these personal plans are the cherry on top of the cake. They give me the opportunity to work closely with residents and the teams supporting them to find exercises that are achievable, useful and, most importantly, enjoyable.

Starting small with Jack

Recently, Jodie, Team Leader at Maple Tree Court, got in touch to ask if I could create an exercise plan for Jack.

Jack has some left-sided weakness following a stroke in 2024. He also lives with Parkinson’s and other health conditions that affect his mobility.

I started by reviewing Jack’s care plan. At the time, he wasn’t taking part in any regular physical activity, so I didn’t want to give him too much to do straight away.

Instead, we started with a simple mobility plan to get his joints moving and help his body become more used to regular movement.

With the help of Care Assistants Karen and Emma, Jack began doing his exercises regularly. They were enthusiastic about supporting him and helped make the exercises part of his routine.

The team also updated Jack’s care plan with details of his exercise programme and the other information I had provided.

Seeing Jack’s progress

Four weeks later, I went back to Maple Tree Court to see how Jack was getting on and whether we could progress his plan.

When I spoke to Karen and Emma, they told me that Jack had become stronger and that his range of movement had improved.

But what really stood out to me was that Jack was enjoying the exercises.

They told me they were having fun doing them together, which is exactly what I want to see. Exercise doesn't have to feel like a chore. Finding ways to make movement enjoyable can make such a difference to whether someone wants to keep doing it.

Because of the progress Jack had made, I was able to add some standing exercises to his plan. These will help him work on his balance and strengthen his core muscles.

The difference personalised support can make

Jack’s story is a great example of why I love creating personal exercise plans.

There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to exercise. Everyone has different abilities, interests and goals, and sometimes starting with a few simple movements can be the first step towards becoming more active.

It's also a reminder of how important the support of care colleagues can be. Karen and Emma have played a huge part in helping Jack make progress by encouraging him and making the exercises part of his routine.

A massive thank you to Karen, Emma and the whole team at Maple Tree Court for the care, encouragement and enthusiasm they've shown Jack.

It's been wonderful to see his progress and, most importantly, to see him enjoying being active.

Keeping active with Zest

For me, that's what Zest is all about - helping residents find ways to move that feel right for them. Our Zest sessions take place across our care homes and include a mix of movement, dance, mobility work and gentle stretching, with activities designed for different needs and abilities. Residents can also access recordings through our Zest Wellbeing YouTube channel, making it easy to keep active whenever it suits them.

You can find out more about Zest and our approach to wellness and activity here.

Helen Core is Anchor's Wellbeing Manager for Care