Put your best foot forward and tell us what you think about keeping active
NHS Oxfordshire is working to develop an active ageing network, and wants to hear from you about how active you are, what you do already to keep active, if you don’t do anything why not and what kinds of things you would be interested in doing to keep fit and active.
Regular exercise can lower the risk of getting serious conditions, such as stroke, heart disease and certain cancers and figures from Age UK show that falls represent the most frequent and serious type of accident in the over 65s, with one older person dying every five hours as a result of a fall.
The good news is that being physically active is one of the best ways of protecting our health. It can add years to our lives, but most importantly, it keeps us happy and helps us maintain our independence as we age.
The service will support and develop a wide network of opportunities ranging from community based exercise and healthy living programmes such as:
• health walks
• dance and exercise to music sessions
and more specific, structured interventions such as:
• a defined course of postural stability to improve balance
• strength training
• light aerobic training to support rehabilitation following a stroke or a fall.
Kate King, Health Improvement Principal - Public Health said: “Being active helps to make you feel good, increase your energy levels, achieve and maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress and sleep better. Also physical activities such as walking groups or local classes provide a great opportunity to get out and about and to meet new people.
“The active ageing network will promote physical and mental wellbeing in older people and enable participating older people to take control of their own health, maintain their independence and increase the restoration of independence following illness and injury.”
If you want to have your say please complete our short survey. You can fill it in online at the NHS Oxfordshire website: https://consult.oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk/consult.ti/activeagingnetwork/consultationHome Or, if you would prefer to complete a paper version, which can be returned freepost to NHS Oxfordshire, please contact: Annika Howard on 01865 334643.