Shared interests help us bond to other people. A shared love of going to the movies, reading books or exercising can spark conversation on common ground.
Such commonality helps remove any barriers that people may have, particularly for those lacking confidence. It also contributes to building a strong relationship and positive outcomes for physical and mental wellbeing.
So, it makes sense that matching participants and support workers with shared interests is a winning combination for all. Here are some reasons why.
Support workers help empower participants
Having a strong connection with a support worker means that participants will likely feel more confident in setting goals and making autonomous choices.
Whether on a personal or professional level, a support worker who understands their participant is able to offer so much more than just pragmatic support. They can offer genuine empathy, encouragement and advice as needed.
The result? Participants are able to reach their maximum potential. And it’s no secret how rewarding that can be.
Support workers offer more than just practical support
By focusing on their shared interests, a support worker can help and encourage a participant to take their passion to the next level. This could happen in a number of ways.
Support workers can help participants to undertake study, join a community organisation or make contact with other people with the same interest. Similarly, support workers may pass on their own learnings and skills.
A shared love of cooking could result in a fresh rotation of menus, a green thumb could see a garden bloom and newly acquired technology skills could take things from drab to fab.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Research shows that spending time on enjoyable activities can help improve mental health and wellbeing, and reduce the likelihood of low moods, stress and depression.
Support workers can facilitate change for the better
Knowing a participant’s likes and dislikes helps a support worker to explore things that might be of interest to them. Perhaps a local soccer team is looking for new players? Maybe a local cookery course could help them perfect those cakes?
Participants may not necessarily have access to this information on their own, but having a support worker who does, opens up opportunities for them to experience and partake in new things.
New experiences can help participants broaden their horizons, embrace newfound passions or just reignite their love for life.
Contributes to a more holistic approach
Sharing interests and having deeper connections means that support workers can offer a more holistic care approach that addresses all aspects of their participant’s needs. These include their physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health needs.
By ticking all these needs, support workers can enable participants to live their healthiest, happiest and most fulfilled life. Surely that’s a match made in heaven.
Support workers can be a significant part of a participant’s socialisation
Support workers can be a significant part of a participant’s socialisation, so having a shared interest makes it easier to connect. Doing things together that both parties enjoy, can provide a sense of purpose.
A solid connection with a support worker can also provide a good foundation for participants to socialise and build other relationships. Empowering and helping participants to get out means they can meet new people and engage with the community. It’s something to be encouraged.
Social connection has been shown to have numerous health benefits including; lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more trusting and cooperative relationships.
Similarly, strong, healthy relationships can help to strengthen our immune systems, improve disease recovery, and may even lengthen our lives.
Provides a sense of achievement
Shared interests between participants and support workers can result in a shared sense of purpose and achievement. After all, it’s easier to set and achieve goals if there’s someone there to cheer you on and do those things with you too.
Whether it’s volunteering to help others, completing a painting or fulfilling an exercise goal, this sense of achievement is both valuable and motivating.
And with motivation, participants can achieve things they may never have before.
With the right support, participants can embrace their interests and passions and get more out of everyday life.
Author – Unidex Healthcare Recruitment
