An Integrated Communication and Exercise Programme in a Day Centre for Adults with Challenging Behaviours

Abstract

It has been the tradition that communication programmes are perceived as discrete interventions set apart from mainstream day centre activities. The most common approach has been to link such communication programmes with some form of separate educational activities. However, this approach fails to reflect the fact that communication between staff and clients and the clients themselves naturally occurs all the time. Integration of communication programmes into ordinary daily routines across a variety of activities would therefore seem to be a better option. This requires close collaboration between staff who may have different professional backgrounds. This paper describes a small project which demonstrates that such a communication programme integrated within broader programmes of health care exercises can be a more efficient use of staff and client time. The social and communication skills which are learnt in natural settings promote staff and client well‐being and improve the client's functional use of communication.