Adults

It is often found that for people with a physical disability, the maintenance of an active lifestyle into adulthood can be a challenge. The lack of opportunity to take part in physical activity often results in an individual spending the majority of their time in a wheelchair or other supported seating. Many disabled adults therefore lose skills through the resulting lack of regular opportunity to practice functional skills in real life situations. This can further result in health risks such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes, in addition to decreasing levels of independence and life choices.

Enabling a disabled person to gain and maintain functional independence skills to the best of their ability will guarantee greater life experiences and have a positive effect on the their quality of life and that of their carers. For example, the ability to maintain any degree of weight bearing into adulthood has been shown to vastly improve life opportunities.

The MOVE Programme was originally developed for physically disabled children, however, following a successful pilot project offering the MOVE Programme to those in the transition period (aged 16-25), it was confirmed that the MOVE Programme also provides benefits to adult groups.

During The MOVE Partnership’s pilot project, the MOVE Programme was developed specifically for the adult sector. Although the greatest benefit from the MOVE Programme will be gained in starting on the programme as early as possible, results from the study were extremely encouraging with improvements seen in the adult group in terms of their mobility, health, communication, social interaction and overall quality of life.

The aim of collaborative multi-agency working towards achieving a disabled person’s personal needs continues to be a common policy recommendation across Health and Social Services. The MOVE Programme strengthens a care centre’s physical development provision for adults with complex physical needs whilst also providing a framework that meets many aspects of current legislation. Once established within a care centre the MOVE Programme is designed to be cost-effective.

Training Options for Adult Professionals

The MOVE Partnership provides two-day in-house Practitioner training courses for care centres, to provide the requisite skills for successful delivery of the MOVE Programme. This format enables the instruction of up to 25 staff members per course. Please see MOVE Training for further information on in-house training.

For more information

Contact us to speak to a member of staff to discuss how the MOVE Programme would fit into and benefit your organisation.

Ways for adult centres to get involved

Participation in MOVE Day is open to all centres whether or not they use the MOVE Programme. The event is themed and takes place in May every year. Click here for further information.

Please read more about the MOVE Programme.