‘Meaningful Day’

1. ‘Meaningful Day’ Staff Nurses Jenny Reynolds & Julie McIlroy Mater Hospital Trust Belfast Meaningful Day

2. What is ‘Meaningful Day’? • Nurse led initiative by Mater Trust in association with community facilities. • Weekly group which focuses on aspects of healthy living and social functioning. Meaningful Day

3. Why ‘Meaningful Day’? • Concern re. psychotic patients increased weight & reduced motivation. • Identified significant lack of daily living skills within this patient population. • Need for a structured programme of activities to enhance motivation and social inclusion. • Practice Development & Care Pathways. Meaningful Day

4. Rationale • To educate and empower patients to make informed choices about diet and physical and social activities so that they can lead a healthier lifestyle and ensure a more ‘Meaningful Day’. Meaningful Day

5. Aims & Objectives of ‘Meaningful Day’ • Educate patients to eat more healthily • Encourage patients to increase their physical and social activity • Motivate patients to lose weight • Improve patients self esteem • Create a supportive environment in which patients can openly discuss their mental and physical wellbeing. Meaningful Day

6. Criteria for Referral • Patients with severe mental illness who are currently prescribed antipsychotic medication. • Have shown a desire to change a current behaviour: weight mgmt, diet or become more socially active. Meaningful Day

7. Assessment • Screening prior to commencement • Social Functioning Scale • LUNSERS (Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effects Rating Scale) • SUDS (Subjective Units of Distress) Meaningful Day

8. Information & Assessment Meaningful Day

9. Programme Structure • 8 wk repeating, rotational programme (Wednesdays in Ward K) • Morning Session: 1 hour group • Afternoon Session: Social activity until 2.30 - 3pm approx. Meaningful Day

10. ART Meaningful Day

11. Pictorial Interpretation of Meaningful Day Meaningful Day

12. 8 week Programme includes: • Healthy eating and drinking. • Physical activity • Self Esteem / Motivation • Stress & Anxiety Management • Activity scheduling • +ve/-ve of social activities • Quizzes/Art • Evaluation Meaningful Day

13. Social Activities • Walking, ten pin bowling, Cinema, eating out, museums, Christmas shopping, Christmas Meal. • Public transport is utilised as much as possible. Meaningful Day

14. Meaningful Day

15. The Future………… • To continue ‘Meaningful Day’ on an 8 week rotational programme. • To engage other nursing staff and disciplines. • To empower and enable patients to make small achievable changes to their lifestyle which will have a positive impact on their physical and mental health. Meaningful Day

16. ‘Helps me get out, I never get over the door’. ‘Hadn’t been to the cinema in 20-30 yrs’ ‘People in the group understand my illness’ ‘Has increased my confidence to speak out, more assertive’. ‘Helps me feel motivated & gives me a routine’. ‘I can now use buses & trains’. Quotations: Meaningful Day

17. Any Questions? • Thank you for giving us this opportunity to present ‘Meaningful Day’. Meaningful Day