Care ………..about swimming.
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Information resource for those supporting an older person
to gain confidence in water
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Why Swim?
Swimming is the sport for all – the sport for life. Everyone can learn to swim
regardless of age, ability, gender, social class or background provided they have the
right opportunities to do so.
At every stage of life, swimming is an essential life skill and provides a fun social
environment. Even if your aim isn’t to be a great swimmer, you can learn how to stay
safe and remain confident in and around water.
Swimming brings significant health and well-being benefits, enabling us to lead a
longer, happier, healthier life. The unique weight bearing properties of water make
exercising easier on the heart, lungs and joints. Water can be a very relaxing
environment and many adults report they swim to reduce stress.
Some facts:
Water is about 800 times denser than air, you can work harder, and
burn more calories, in a pool than out of it
Water pressure lowers heart rate enabling lower blood pressure at
higher work intensity
Swimming can support up to 90% of the body’s weight in the water i.e.
a low impact activity and can help prevent osteoporosis
Swimming can reduce the risk, and help improve symptoms of arthritis
by helping to retain normal muscle strength and joint structure.
Different swimming strokes challenge different muscles within the body
so you can choose where you tone up.
Rhythmic and aerobic forms of exercise such as swimming can improve
psychological wellbeing.
Female swimmers have been shown to experience significantly less
tension, depression and anger after exercising than before.
Social element of lessons is important to participants
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Take the Plunge!
We hope, whether you are a swimmer or a supporter/carer that you enjoy and get the
most out of your swimming sessions.
Remember:
The lesson will be tailored to the right level for each participant. If it is too basic,
the participant may have fun initially, but soon get bored and not learn any new
skills. If it is too advanced, it may put them off swimming and affect their
confidence in the water.
Swimmers - Let your swim instructor know what you want to get out of the
session. Your supporter will be able to help with this.
Supporter/carers – make sure you know what your swimmer wants to get out of
the sessions so you feel confident and comfortable to support them and have fun
with them too!
Have fun!!!
Venue: The pool identified for the pilot is Live Active Leisure, Perth Leisure Pool,
Glasgow Road, Perth, PH2 0HZ. Tel: 01738 454654. Email: [email protected]
Timings: The pool has been allocated to us from Tuesday 19th August, 1.30 -2.30pm
for 8 weeks. The residents and carers can arrive any time before this to get changed
etc however won’t get into the pool until 1.30pm.
Entrance to Perth Leisure Pool
The teaching pool where the swimming
will take place
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Being Prepared
Now you know where and when, you need to think about what else you need to
make the swim enjoyable.
Being prepared can help reduce anxiety before getting to the pool. It may be helpful
to spend time with the participant you are supporting prior to their first session to
explain to them what the session will be like. There will be up to 7 other participants
and their carers in the water with 2 swimming instructors.
A visit beforehand can help you familiarise yourself with the facility and therefore
assist in describing it to the participant e.g. Changing areas, shower facilities, pool
access etc. Photographs of the facilities are also available so you can share these
with the residents taking part prior to bringing them to the pool.
What to bring:
Swim costume
Towel
Swim cap (optional)
Goggles (optional but may increase confidence)
Money for locker
Money to get into the pool
Toiletries
Hair bobble (if hair is long)
Water bottle
Bathrobe for poolside
Clean poolside shoes (if appropriate)
Post-pool snack
All carers to wear a T-shirt on top of their bathing costumes
How to get there
Perth Leisure Pool is located on the Glasgow Road, next to Dewars Ice Rink in Perth.
There is a large car park adjacent to the pool with a long wheelchair accessible ramp.
Alternatively you can access via the car park level by parking in the disabled bay
spaces, there is a door with an intercom system and the pool staff will unlock the
door. The carer should then report to the reception desk to book in.
Ill Health
We would be grateful if you could please adhere to Perth Leisure Pools policy on
preventing the spread of infection. If a resident or carer has had a stomach upset,
they should be clear of any symptoms for at least 48 hours after, before attending a
swimming session.
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The Facilities
Changing Rooms
Perth Leisure Pool has a number of larger
family style changing rooms (like the one
pictured here) which allow additional space
for a resident and/or their carer
There is one disabled changing room
located within the main changing area.
This also has a seat for showering from
and a mobile shower chair.
There is another disabled changing room
located within the health suite should this
be required. This does not have a shower
or toilet in it.
Shower Facilities
There are 2 shower areas. One is located near the Training Pool; the other is beside
the Leisure Pool
Showers beside leisure pool
Showers beside training pool
Blue Plastic Overshoes
For health and hygiene reasons, shoes are not allowed to be worn by swimmers
unless they cover their shoes with the disposable blue plastic shoe covers – available
at the pool
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Ways to Support Your Swimmer
It is essential that supporters/carers are aware of the needs, wishes and goals of the
swimmer they are supporting. The following are some ideas on how you can support
someone when in the pool but of course, it is not limitless. If in doubt, ask your swim
instructor for more safe suggestions.
Remember – take all activity including progressions at the swimmer’s pace!
Non Swimmers
Hold hands and assist with standing in the pool. This helps the swimmer
acclimatise to being in the water and how that feels. Chatting can help reduce
anxiety.
When the swimmer is ready, holding hands, or forearm, assist to travel round the
wall, or around the pool to help develop confidence and feelings of the water
supporting balance and mobility.
Use floats (a noodle or flat floats) under the
arms to enable independent travel around
the pool
Encourage putting face then head in the water
Encourage the swimmer to blow out into the water – blow bubbles, sing or hum so
breathing is steady and helps to relax further
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Less Confident Swimmers
Holding the back of the swimmer’s head, to support, enable the swimmer to float
on their back. Tell them to let
their feet float up to the
surface – let the water carry
them up – and then their
hips and torso. You may
also want to support the
lower back too especially if
the swimmer is anxious. A
noodle across the back may
also help.
•
Floats can also be used to help the
swimmer float on their front, If
they are confident try
placing their face in the water.
Holding the swimmer’s hands, enable them to float on their front, face up towards
you and encourage to glide then kick as you walk backwards.
Swimmers can also hold on
to the wall to kick. You could too!
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More Confident Swimmers
Set challenges – do they want to swim
widths or lengths? You could swim with
them or encourage them to swim
towards you.
Remember, you are not the swim instructor so there is no responsibility or necessity
to teach swim skills – ask the swim instructor present for advice so that any activity is
safe and appropriate.
Also, there are other ways to enjoy the water e.g. dancing, exercise moves, games –
and of course, don’t forget the social opportunities!
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Nutrition and Hydration
Swimming on an empty stomach is not a good idea. It means you will have less
energy and could also affect your ability to concentrate. Make sure you and the
participant you are supporting have something to eat about one or two hours before
the session. Choose meals which are high in carbohydrates and protein but low in
fat, especially saturated fats.
Some examples are:
Baked potatoes with beans, tuna or chilli, not too much
Cheese or mayo!
Pasta meals or bakes – with vegetables, chicken or tuna.
Beans on toast
After your swim, there are lots of healthy snacks you could choose that enable our
bodies to re-fuel and repair including:
Fruit – fresh and/or dried
Cereal bars
Wholegrain toast
Cereal and milk
Yoghurt and yoghurt drinks
Small pack of unsalted nuts
Pools can be very warm environments and swimming can be a very strenuous
exercise. Even though we don’t realise, we sweat in the water and can quickly
become de-hydrated when swimming.
Bring a water bottle for yourself and the participant (or something else they are
confident drinking from) and you can re-fill if necessary during your swim. All pools
should have a drinking water facility.
After swimming also make sure you both have something to drink – preferably water,
diluted juice but a cup of tea is fine too!
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Issues to Consider
Mobility Issues
The resident should bring their usual walking aid with them to the swimming pool.
Depending on their ability, you may wish to consider also having a wheelchair
available. There is disabled parking available at Perth Leisure Pool and an entrance
directly into the pool level (the carer will need to use the intercom system here to
arrange for the door to be opened and then register the resident at the reception
desk)
For hygiene reasons, if shoes are worn at the
poolside, they much be covered in the blue
plastic disposable shoe covers which are
available at the pool. This should not affect their
mobility however it will be important to take extra
care when walking with your resident to the
poolside. Once shoes are removed, they will be
taken back to the lockers.
If a resident is unable to access the training pool using the poolside steps, there is a
hoist available and pool staff will assist with this.
If a resident is wheelchair dependent, they will be transferred from their wheelchair
onto an alternative chair with wheels provided by the pool ready to be hoisted into the
water.
Communication
Before the residents get into the pool, it will be
important to remove their hearing aid (and
spectacles if they intend putting their head in the
water) the swimming instructor will provide
instructions to both the resident and their carer
and the carer will then need to reinforce these
instructions. It is therefore really important that
the carer speaks clearly and concisely with
plenty of visual cues and demonstrating moves
to the resident.
Medical/Medications
The Instructors are both very experienced however will not know your resident or any
medical conditions and/or medications which might affect them. Each resident will
have had a resident profile completed prior to the session which will help those
involved in their understanding.
It is important that the care home takes into account any medications that are
required and these are taken appropriately. They should also bring with them any
inhaler devices or GTN sprays etc.
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The carer should report any changes in the resident’s health or appearance
immediately to the Instructor.
Learning and Processing
It will be important with all residents however perhaps more so with residents with a
learning disability or dementia to keep all instruction simple and clear and use plenty
of visual cues etc. Patience is the key and encourage with prompts and praise. Also
keep moving.
Water Confidence
Depending on previous experience, residents will have mixed emotions about being
involved in swimming. Some may have a fear of drowning perhaps relating to a
childhood incident or traumatic experience; others may not have had previous
opportunities and may fear the unknown.
It may be necessary therefore to help them overcome any of these issues. This may
need to be done in stages and give them time to progress in their own time and pace.
Various techniques will be employed. Key approaches are:
Build Trust
Be Consistent
Have plenty of patience
Be confident yourself
Overall have fun and enjoy.
Incontinence
If a resident has incontinence, they should wear special adult swim pants “Gabby's Adult
Pull-On Swim Pant” underneath their swimwear. These are suitable for bowel movements
but not for urine or liquidy containment.
They can be ordered on-line from
http://www.incywincy.net/acatalog/Swim-Nappies-Adult-p1.html
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The effects of swimming
Swimming regularly can make differences to our health and appearance.
Psychologically we may feel less anxious and relaxed after a swim. Our confidence
can also increase as we master a new skill and feel part of a group.
Even though participants may not appear to be moving or exercising a lot during the
Care…..about swimming programme, they are doing a lot of physical work to remain
upright, move through the water and focus on learning new skills. Improvements may
be small, but they will be there! Ask your swimmer how they feel after their swim and
a few days later (if possible) to see if they can identify any changes to their health,
mood or confidence.
Some adults report feeling a bit overwhelmed when they feel they have achieved the
ability to swim as it is something they have sought to do for years. Learning to swim
as an adult is a major achievement so swimmers AND supporters make sure you
reward yourself – in a healthy way of course!
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