LLT- Course Evaluation

Lesley Gilmour, Tewkesbury -

I completed PSI training with Later Life Training in November 2008 and incorporated the exercises into my existing classes. My purpose for writing is to let you know that I run the Backward Chaining element as a separate workshop now. I usually teach it over four weeks in small groups of 4-6. I have also adapted it for people with specific needs and teach it one-to-one.

· I have successfully managed to teach a lady with brain damage and MS, who is a persistent faller due to her conditions, and prior to learning backward chaining seldom managed to move from the supine position and usually called an ambulance or waited until she was attended to by a carer.

· I have also adapted it and taught a gentleman with an above-knee amputation who is learning to walk and balance again with a prosthetic limb.

The improvements in confidence after learning this skill over a relatively short period are incredible with this population.

· I also teach exercise to a small group of ladies in sheltered housing and when demonstrating the technique realised that the Estate Manager was expressing interest.

She felt that she could help to talk people through the process of getting up off the floor after a fall with no injuries rather than call an ambulance if she knew it. I intend to liaise with my county Falls Pathway Coordinator to suggest that Care Home Managers or Estate Managers might benefit from being taught how to do this, thus saving on the costs incurred when paramedics attend. I believe this skill is vastly under-rated and under-taught and could make a positive difference to people's lives.

Angie Hampton. York - Since qualifying as a PSI in May 2004 I have set up 4 classes working for Selby and York Primary Care Trust.These classes run alongside my job as a community nurse and Extend teacher. Classes are proving very popular and I have 15 people in each which could mean I am exercising with up to 60 people per week. Reassessments show good results . Balance,leg strength,confidence in walking as well as the socialising opportunity.

PSI Course Evaluations

Anonymous course evaluations are collected at the end of Day 4 and assessment evaluations at the end of the course. Constructive criticism from these evaluations is used to guide change of practice – both in the presentation of information and in the delivery of the course. Constructive criticism is welcomed at all times.

REFERENCES	COURSE EVALUATION	CPD EVALUATION
Papers on PSI and OEP - evidence base
Click here to link to the evidence base behind PSI and OEP
References
Jackie Riglin Falls Co-ordinator Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trusts
"Our local Physical Activity Strategy now states that PCTs, City and District Councils will only employ PSI instructors to lead classes for elderly frail fallers. Running a PSI course has broken down barriers between therapists and exercise instructors, forged new friendships and proved invaluable in developing an effective exercise continuum across health and leisure services in and around Cambridge, as part of a Falls Prevention Service"
Published Information
New Guidelines for Exercise Programming for the Frail Elderly have been published by the Better Ageing Collaborative based on the results of the European Commission Framework V Better Ageing Project. The project used the FaME programme as the basis of the exercise intervention and the original protocol for the FaME exercise intervention is cited. You can download the document by clicking here.
DTI HomeSafety Network - Falls Prevention - Wiltshire Health Promotion Service. see http://www.dti.gov.uk/homesafetynetwork/fl_goodp.htm#wilts on this page are pictures of PSI classes in action.
THOUGHTS ON THE POSTURAL STABILITY COURSE A poem written by one of our students
PSI Instructor
Lesley Gilmour, Tewkesbury - I completed PSI training with Later Life Training in November 2008 and incorporated the exercises into my existing classes. My purpose for writing is to let you know that I run the Backward Chaining element as a separate workshop now. I usually teach it over four weeks in small groups of 4-6. I have also adapted it for people with specific needs and teach it one-to-one. · I have successfully managed to teach a lady with brain damage and MS, who is a persistent faller due to her conditions, and prior to learning backward chaining seldom managed to move from the supine position and usually called an ambulance or waited until she was attended to by a carer. · I have also adapted it and taught a gentleman with an above-knee amputation who is learning to walk and balance again with a prosthetic limb. The improvements in confidence after learning this skill over a relatively short period are incredible with this population. · I also teach exercise to a small group of ladies in sheltered housing and when demonstrating the technique realised that the Estate Manager was expressing interest. She felt that she could help to talk people through the process of getting up off the floor after a fall with no injuries rather than call an ambulance if she knew it. I intend to liaise with my county Falls Pathway Coordinator to suggest that Care Home Managers or Estate Managers might benefit from being taught how to do this, thus saving on the costs incurred when paramedics attend. I believe this skill is vastly under-rated and under-taught and could make a positive difference to people's lives. Angie Hampton. York - Since qualifying as a PSI in May 2004 I have set up 4 classes working for Selby and York Primary Care Trust.These classes run alongside my job as a community nurse and Extend teacher. Classes are proving very popular and I have 15 people in each which could mean I am exercising with up to 60 people per week. Reassessments show good results . Balance,leg strength,confidence in walking as well as the socialising opportunity. I have waiting lists for all classes and enough people in one area to start another class. I hope to do this soon through leisure services and local council. I hope you all enjoy teaching these classes as much as I do.
PSI Course Evaluations . Anonymous course evaluations are collected at the end of Day 4 and assessment evaluations at the end of the course. Constructive criticism from these evaluations is used to guide change of practice – both in the presentation of information and in the delivery of the course. Constructive criticism is welcomed at all times.
These are some of the positive feedback comments we have received anonymously on the evaluation forms
I have thoroughly enjoyed the course and would recommend it for any instructor working with older people Useful skills gained to take back with me into my work practice I have learnt a lot but it has been a challenge Backward chaining and floor work very useful Overall, a very good course and now feel confident about teaching falls prevention Have found the course hard work but very interesting and have learnt a lot The tutors were very helpful and knowledgeable and were always happy to answer any questions we had Course immensely helpful – really improved my patient assessments in terms of medical causes and medications, more confident in getting back to GPs with my queries Wish I’d known more about exercise programming ages ago – it would have made me a much better Physio Opportunity to work alongside local therapy and fitness instructors has been invaluable – breaking down barriers and building up trust and networking Now have the resources to staff an exercise continuum with documentation to make sure we all use the same assessments enabling longer term evaluation Very enjoyable, informative course. I feel I have grown in confidence and knowledge when treating elderly patients who have suffered falls Good learning experience, I have lots of new tools to take into practice I would like to say thank you LLT for the course. I have found it very relevant and stimulating.
There have been repeated comments about the intensity of the course, the length of days and the size of the manual. The difficulty in lengthening the course in terms of number of days is the implications this would have both for cost and time that the candidates have to be away from their work (or loss of weekends). The manual is intended as a resource to be used after the course completion but we are currently reviewing how we can change the layout and presentation of the information to make it more digestible during the length of the course. This course does lead to a qualification and therefore the course content and the assessments have to be set at a certain level to comply with National Vocational Qualifications.
THOUGHTS ON THE POSTURAL STABILITY COURSE Oh – I'm studying hard all this evidence base But I must say I feel overfaced I need to know the meaning of FAME And what is that acronym DAME ?? I must differentiate between REHAB And chair based and the word PREHAB I have to demonstrate backward chaining In order to pass this course but I'm waining And some funny arm patterns that make up Tai Chi It really is all foreign to me! And what is this word CATABOLIC ? It's totally different from ANABOLIC Shoulder circles , side bends and trunk twists Those ankle circles mustn't be missed You must demonstrate well and walk around Be on the right side, so I have found Don't forget to include a ‘sit to stand' And resistance work with an exercise band And what are the recommendations for vitamin C ? Look in the manual I am sure you will see ! But it'll be worth it when I've passed I'll be able to say I've done it at last And I can call myself a P.S.I. And at last – breathe a big sigh Role on that day I set up classes For all those vulnerable lads and lasses And raise a toast to L.L.T ‘Cause I know it was the course for me ! Angie Hampton 2004
CPD Evaluations
"I found it really useful and a great opportunity to get all of my team to one session which provided a great motivator tool" James Mihill, Falls Prevention Co-ordinator, Maldon & South Chelmsford PCT
Other Comments
"I would like to comment on how pleased I am that you are now running CPD days and how beneficial I found the CPD1 in London last week! From one of our participant evaluation forms in Manchester (Motivation CPD) “Definitely one of the most useful training days I have attended since working in the industry for the last 7 years”.

Later Life Training Exercise for the Prevention of Falls and Injuries in Frailer Older People Postural Stability Instructor course - Evaluation