The Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument for Occupational Profiling: A Practical Resource for Carers of People with Cognitive Impairment Fourth ... of Bradford Dementia Good Practice Guides)

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A number of different approaches within dementia care offer helpful ways to develop meaningful activity and improve quality of life for people with dementia.

Explaining the Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument - Rompa Blog Explaining the Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument - Rompa Blog

NAPA runs an NCFE distance learning course – Intermediate Certificate in Provision of Activities in a Care Setting – and also offers open and in-house courses on a range of topics, including massage and seated exercise. Other further education colleges also offer the NCFE course. Bell, V., Troxel, D., Cox, T. and Hamon, R. (2004 and 2007) The Best Friends book of Alzheimer’s activities, vol 1 and 2. Baltimore, MD: Health Professions Press. The CLIPPER assessment tool was developed by Jennie Powell (2007). It considers 41 activities that could occur during a typical day. Caregivers note which activities occur, how often, and how the person seems to feel about each activity. The QCS Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument is widely used as the framework for providing activity-based care for people with cognitive impairments, including dementia. The Instrument was recommended for daily living skills training and activity planning in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence Clinical Guidelines for Dementia (NICE 2006). It is an essential resource for any practitioner or carer wanting to provide fulfilling occupation for clients with cognitive impairments.

The PAL instrument positively shaped my practice as an occupational therapist and continues to do so today. If you support people living with dementia and their caregivers this is the book for you - it combines expertise, with evidence and practical guidance for anyone with an interest in dementia care. Is aware of appropriate interaction, can chat coherently and is able to use complex language skills. Membership of NAPA also offers valuable discounts on activity products from some key catalogues. Getting involved with NAPA can offer anyone with an interest in improving activities the support, encouragement and training they need to keep going. At the end of this feature, you can see a list of companies and organisations that produce catalogues of products and resources that could inspire you.

Pool Activity Level (PAL) Checklist - QCS Pool Activity Level (PAL) Checklist - QCS

leisure activities, therapies, therapy and treatment, activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, dementia; Care UK’s activity teams share what they have found to be helpful when supporting people with dementia in everyday activities, arts and crafts, maintaining independence, special occasions, health and wellbeing, and reminiscence. Aware of others in the group and will work alongside others although tends to focus on own activity. Simple assessment tools can help staff to understand the types of activities that might benefit a person with dementia. Two of the best-known examples are the Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument (Pool, 2007) and the Cardiff Lifestyle Improvement Profile for People in Extended Residential Care (CLIPPER) (Powell, 2007).

Practical activity ideas and resources

Powell, J. (2007) Care to communicate: Helping the older person with dementia, (2nd edition), London: Hawker. This book includes the CLIPPER assessment tool with forms to photocopy. More interested in the making or doing than the end result, needs prompting to remember purpose, can get distracted.

pool activity level (PAL) instrument for occupational profiling: a The pool activity level (PAL) instrument for occupational

I began developing the PAL Instrument by building on the work of Claudia K Allen. She had developed an Occupational Therapy model for understanding cognitive disability, based on developmental theory. Allen’s model has a robust assessment for OTs and then relies on their professional knowledge to interpret the outcomes of the assessment. I wanted a tool that would self-interpret and provide a guide to those without the clinical skills so that they could enable individuals with cognitive difficulties to be less disabled in every-day activities. Dementia is a growing challenge. It is estimated that by 2025, the number of people with dementia in the UK will be more than 1 million. As one of the most important health and social care issues facing the world, continuous post-diagnostic care and support are vital. If in doubt about which statement to select, choose the level of ability that represents their average performance over the last 2 weeks. Some depend on using a particular practical resource, some emphasise skilful assessment before planning activities. Others promote a programme, philosophy or therapeutic intervention.Hilary Woodhead, Executive Director of NAPA (The National Activity Providers Association) The QCS Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument is the foundation of activity and engagement. This essential resource is a 'must have' for Activity Providers. The Instrument gives us a framework and practical toolkit for person centred practice, and something we have needed for a very long time; the PAL Engagement Measure. I am excited to see the difference it will make to the practice of Activity Providers, and ultimately, the wellbeing of people living with dementia.