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Making a difference to our older people's health and well-being

Why do we need a programme like fit as a fiddle?

  • Because by 2020 over half the adults in the UK will be over 50
  • Because inactivity increases with age
  • Because we want to encourage older people to take more physical activity and eat the right kinds of food

 

Physical activity

"I took yoga again, I hadn't done it for 30 years. It made me feel good."

We know that there are many health and lifestyle benefits of physical activity for older people. People with an active lifestyle feel healthier and have an improved sense of well-being. Besides feeling better, physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, diebetes and high blood pressure. Regular physical activity can also help older people to prolong their independence and improve their quality of life.

Healthy Eating

Many factors affect nutrition in older age. Eating too much or too little, eating alone, difficulties with shopping or cooking, taking medications, suffering from long-term conditions, financial difficulties and needing assistance with care are just a few examples of what can affect older people's eating habits.

What is important is to eat foods rich in nutrients and maintain a healthy bodyweight. Being underweight is as unhealthy as being overweight. As we get older we should aim for a diet rich in starch and fibre, fruit and vegetables, calcium and vitamin D and low in saturated fat, sugat and salt.

fit as a fiddle is developing a wide range of activities targeted at older people to encourage them to eat a varied, balanced diet. These activities include initiatives aimed at encouraging older men to improve their cooking skills as well as offering advice in a variety of settings.

Mental Health

"I think that there should be a group where you can just come and talk. If you don't go out of the house and you don't have anyone to phone you don't hear a voice."

One in four people aged 65 and over has symptoms of depression much of which could be prevented. fit as a fiddle is developing community based initiatives to reduce isolation and enhance social support for older people who have, or who are at risk of, developing mental health problems.

What older people have told us they want:

  • The opportunity to learn new things
  • To have activities dedicated to people their age
  • To do things with people their own age
  • To pick up old activities and be able to do them again
  • To be useful (volunteering/ability to work)

 

fit as a fiddle has been developed by talking to older people and finding out what exactly they need and want to stay active and healthy.

How the programme is run

This is a programme that will support older people to remain fit and active well into their older age. The individual projects being developed will target all older age ranges, with particular focus on older men and older people living in sheltered and supported housing.

Most of the projects being developed will focus on engaging older people in activities that are fun and where they have the opportunity to do things with people their own age. Many of the projects will be developed using trained older volunteers to help older people live healthier, happier lives. They will be enhancing their cooking skills, doing yoga, line dancing, gardening, doing seated exercise, socialising with others and doing everything to enable them to be 'fit as fiddles!'

Contact Details:

Telephone: 01625 612958

email: healthylifestyles@ageconcerneastcheshire.org.uk


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