Top Tips
Staying active as you get older is important for your health and well-being. Physical activity can help you prevent or manage chronic conditions, improve your strength and balance, boost your mood and memory, and reduce your risk of falls and injuries. Here are some tips for how older adults can stay active:
- Aim to be physically active every day, even if it's just light activity. This can include walking, gardening, housework, or any other movement that gets your heart rate up and your muscles working.
- Do activities that improve your strength, balance and flexibility at least twice a week. This can include doing yoga, dancing, or playing games like golf or bowling.
- Choose activities that you enjoy and that suit your abilities and preferences. You can try out different options such as joining a fitness class, going for a bike ride, swimming, or simply playing with your grandchildren.
- Make the most of your doctor's advice and support. Ask them about the best types of exercise for you, especially if you have any health conditions or concerns.
- Stay in touch with others. Being socially active can also benefit your health and happiness. It can reduce stress, loneliness, and depression, as well as provide you with support, motivation, and fun. You can also join clubs, groups, or volunteer activities that interest you and meet new people.
See below for some simple ways to take those first steps to staying active at home:
Fall-Proof
Our Fall-Proof resources focus on six exercises, designed to improve strength and balance that you can do in your own home. The format of the resources are 6 cards, with one exercise on each card, that can stand upright and be placed around the home. Please get in touch if you would like a copy or copies of these resources.
Pre-recorded Seated Wellbeing Sessions
Click on the video below and follow along with Kate, our Active Ageing Officer, for a fun way to get moving!
Kirsty Heath
Strategic Lead Physical Activity for Health (Berkshire West)
Kirsty's role focuses on embedding physical activity in health across Berkshire West. With nearly 20 years' experience within the physical activity sector, she holds a BA (Hons) in Sport, Health and Exercise, as well as an MSc in Sports Injury. Her previous roles were in local authority and the NHS, before joining GBA at its inception in 2011. Her sense of purpose has come from personally discovering the benefits of physical activity and she enjoys helping others to access them. Outside of work Kirsty juggles parenting with remaining active, with particular interests including netball, fitness classes and being outdoors.
Talk to Kirsty about:
- Embedding physical activity across the healthcare system
- Partnerships in Health and Social Care
- Safeguarding Adults
- Telephone
- 07394 564540
- kirsty.heath@getberkshireactive.org
