These NICE guidelines cover the interventions to maintain and improve the mental wellbeing and independence of people aged 65 or older and how to identify those most at risk of a decline". It is for
- Local authorities working in partnership with organisations in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors that come into contact with older people
- The NHS and other service providers with a remit for older people
- It may also be of interest to older people, their families and carers
Commissioners of services for older people should ensure any service specifications take into account the recommendations in this guideline.
Within the guidance it recommends providing a range of group activities, including multicomponent activities, combining 1 or more of the following:
- Singing programmes, in particular, those involving a professionally led community choir.
- Arts and crafts and other creative activities.
- Tailored, community based physical activity programmes including walking schemes (see recommendations 2 and 3 in NICE's guideline on occupational therapy and physical activity interventions to promote the mental wellbeing of older people).
- Intergenerational activities involving; for example, older people helping with reading in schools or young people providing older people with support to use new technologies.
The full guidance can be found here https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng32