The strength and balance and general exercise sessions are based on best practice evidence and are designed to improve the physical activity levels of older adults in local care homes. This will not only help prevent accidental falls and injuries but also contribute to positive wellbeing among residents.
The City of Wolverhampton Council's Adult Social Care and Public Health services teamed up with the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) to launch the Active Care Homes project earlier this year and, following the success of trial sessions in a small number of care homes, the programme is now set to be offered city wide.
Qualified instructors will deliver sessions lasting up to an hour which are adapted to the residents’ abilities, for instance by including chair based and standing exercises. Care home staff will also be trained to deliver the programme going forward.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: "The Active Care Homes project forms part of the Healthy Ageing work which is being delivered through Wolverhampton Health and Wellbeing Together’s new Physical Activity Strategy.
“We have 1,800 care home residents in the city and this important programme will offer them the chance to take part in gentle leisure activities in the comfort of their own home.
"They include a range of gentle exercise activities based on best practice evidence, with group and one to one sessions aimed at reducing the risk of falls and improving the overall physical and mental wellbeing of residents.
"It will also help as we continue to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic – a lot of older people were less mobile during the pandemic, meaning they will not be as strong as they otherwise might be."
