Who do we 'care' for?
Learn about the different people that get care and support.
There are lots of different people who need care. This includes older people, people with disabilities and children. Everybody who needs care has different needs, and care is different for everyone.
Below, there are three activities. During this section it’s important to remember that everyone has different care needs, and we need to take time to learn about what is important to them. Doing this gives us the information we need to give them the best care!
Activity one - Jenny
You will need
- One piece of paper
- Pens/pencils
Task
Go into pairs. This is Jenny. Jenny is 80 years old and has a condition which means that she can’t walk. To help her get around, Jenny uses a wheelchair. On your pieces of paper, write down what things you think Jenny might need help with, and what could be done to help her.
Whilst writing your answers, remember that Jenny is an older person, who has a disability and uses a wheelchair.
Activity two - Mei
Environment means everything around you, both living and non-living things.
You will need
- One piece of paper
- Coloured pens/pencils
Some children may not be able to live with their family, for lots of different reasons. Some children go to live with others, for example a foster carer, grandparent or other relative, who will look after them. This could be short or long term.
Task
This is Mei. Mei’s dad has had to go to the hospital, and Mei has to go stay with her grandma for a week. Living with someone new could be a big change and different to what Mei knows. Imagine Mei was coming to live with you and your family. What things could you give Mei to help her feel welcome in your home? This could be a blanket, a warm smile, a teddy bear, or anything else you think that would help Mei feel welcome. Draw these items on your pieces of paper.
Whilst writing your answer, remember that Mei may feel nervous, and they may need extra comfort and support.
Activity three - Billy
You will need
- One piece of paper
- A pen
Billy is blind, (or visually impaired) it means that Billy can’t see.
Billy lives on his own, and it can be unsafe for him to go to the shop on his own.
To help Billy to go to the shop safely, he has a guide dog called Charlie. A guide dog is a dog who has been trained to help some people move around, and they can also help a blind people to feel happier and safer.
Task: In the hall/outside, set up some cones/obstacles for the pupils to navigate around.
Get into pairs. One person closes your eyes. Your partner needs to guide you through the cones/obstacles.
Task
Answer these questions:
- The person with their eyes closed: how did you feel finding your way through the cones with your eyes closed?
- The person guiding: what skills did you use to help your friend through the cones?
- Do you think that guide dogs are important for blind people?
- Why?
It’s important to remember that there are different levels of blindness. Some people can’t see at all, some people can see a little bit, and others may not be able to see or hear.
Some blind people will use a cane to help them get around, just like Billy in the illustration. You can find more information about the different types of canes here at Sense here.