Recommended by over 90% of subscribers
Recommended by over 90% of subscribers
In the secure care unit at Korian Le Clos de l’Orchidée, the Happiness Programme has become a valuable everyday tool for calming residents, supporting care teams, and promoting a non-medication approach to managing behavioral disorders.
At Korian Le Clos de l’Orchidée nursing home, Louise, a psychomotor therapist, has been supporting residents in the secure care unit for several years and works closely with all teams across the facility.
As the Happiness Programme lead on site, she shares her experience of using this solution on a daily basis, both for managing behavioral disorders and for cognitive stimulation, relaxation, and personalized resident support.
For Louise, the main strength of the Happiness Programme lies in its ease of use and its versatility:
“I would rate it 8 or 9 out of 10! It’s practical, easy to use, and incredibly comprehensive. It can be used for mobility, cognitive functions, relaxation, and even end-of-life care. I think it adapts to everyone.”
The system remains installed within the secure care unit, allowing for quick and spontaneous use whenever needed.
The teams now use it four to five times per week: Louise and Fanny, along with two members of the day team, use it two to three times a week, while another team uses it one to two additional times per week.
The Happiness Programme is used very practically, exactly when a need arises: agitation, anxiety, boredom, or the risk of behavioral issues escalating.
“We really use it in the moment to calm a behavioral issue that may be emerging, to prevent the appearance or worsening of behavioral disorders… or simply to fight boredom when there are fewer activities.”
Relaxation sessions are particularly appreciated: projections of fish, aquariums, immersive landscapes, animated leaves, and visual scenes accompanied by soft music. These visual and sensory environments can be projected onto floors or walls, sometimes for several hours.
Cognitive activities such as memory games and interactive games are offered in small groups or one-to-one sessions, over shorter periods of several dozen minutes, with regular activity changes.
The observed effects are immediate and tangible.
Louise mentions the case of Mrs. G., whose use of the Happiness Programme led to a noticeable improvement:
“We observed real results: for example, after using the Happiness Programme, Mrs. G experienced reduced anxiety, she slept better, and ate better during meals.”
Another striking example concerns Amanda, who is usually very agitated but becomes noticeably calmer thanks to the projected leaf activities.
Overall, the tool helps calm residents, reduce anxiety, and make the daily work of care teams easier.
Beyond immediate comfort, the Happiness Programme also supports a reduction in the use of medication.
“It’s really for everyday use—to reduce medication-based care during behavioral issues, or at least delay or reduce the need for medication.”
This non-pharmacological approach offers a gentler, more personalized response that places the resident’s wellbeing at the center of care.
As the programme lead, Louise works closely with all professionals in the secure care unit: care assistants, activity coordinators, housekeeping staff, and other team members.
“I’m the main contact person and programme lead. I work a lot in collaboration with all professionals, whether they are activity coordinators, care assistants, or support staff.”
The programme is now well integrated into the teams’ daily routines.
Care assistants especially use it with small groups of residents living with cognitive disorders. The group dynamic becomes a real driver:
“The group effect encourages participation, motivates people, and allows some more introverted residents to push themselves, try something new… and sometimes even become fully involved in the activity.”
This dynamic encourages participation, engagement, and helps residents feel valued—even those who are usually more withdrawn.
Through this feedback, the Happiness Programme proves to be much more than a simple activity tool: it becomes real daily support for care teams while improving residents’ quality of life.
Easy to integrate, adaptable to many situations, and delivering visible results, it stands out as a concrete response to today’s challenges in care settings: calming, stimulating, and supporting… differently.
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