Mercy Care Centre’s Diversional Therapy Response to COVID-19

Staff at Hennessy Recreational Therapy Centre, part of Mercy Care Young, developed a diversional therapy program in 2020 to help clients overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness during COVID restrictions.

The innovative packages included a fortnightly newsletter and activities individually tailored to client’s interests and needs and telephone conference activity groups. These consisted of two to four participants and were based on friendship, compatibility and shared interests.

When restrictions allowed, staff visited the most isolated clients in their homes, providing individual diversional therapy interventions. The service provided social contact, emotional support and strengthened mental health and wellbeing.

The remote service continues as an exciting addition to the current service at Hennessy Centre through cognitive activity packages and a monthly newsletter, ‘Leisure Living’. ‘Leisure Living’ focuses on leisure and recreational opportunities within Hilltops and is delivered to clients in Young, Harden and Boorowa.

Clients have returned to centre based activities, enabling clients to enjoy the social interaction and recreational activities as part of the men’s interest group, leisure skills for younger people and Dementia ‘Memories Group’ and the general recreation group.

If you are interested in accessing the community packages or would like more information on Hennessy Centre programs or carer respite, call 02 6382 8444.

• Topics:

• Mental Health