Active Older People's Network

Thursday, 19 November 2009

We all know just how vital it is to maintain physical activity as you grow older. Even just a little more movement just around the house can work wonders for the health and fitness of older people who will reap a huge return on just a little more effort. Activities you can do around your home include not only housework but gardening, DIY or local walking.

Of course, increased levels of activity help to hold off the ageing process and enable people to have fun and enjoy themselves as they grow older, so creating greater well-being and happiness, the joy of new friends and greater independence for many more years. Exercise also improves sleep and relaxation and fights off depression and anxiety too.

Because there is such a need to encourage and promote physical activity in older people, an organisation called the Active Older People's Network (AOPN) has been set up. It comprises a variety of organisations and individuals who are committed to encouraging older people to become more active in order to improve their health and well-being.

Indeed, being active helps reduce the risk of serious conditions such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis and some types of diabetes. It also avoids pressure sores in the very elderly or infirm who can still make some effort to move around. Active older people also tend to be less accident-prone.

The Active Older People's Network is an offshoot from the Kirklees Active Older People 5th Annual Conference, held at the Textile Centre, Red Doles Lane in Huddersfield, which is funded by NHS Kirklees and managed by Kirklees Council Culture and Leisure Services. This year, the conference which focused on physical activity was entitled "Move with Me".

Following the conference a new website was set up called time2beactive and was launched by cabinet member Cllr Mary Harkin.

Cllr Harkin said at the launch: “It is great to be involved with time2beactive, it is fantastic to see all the activities that take place throughout Kirklees for adults and older people. A lot of people don’t realise that a lot of these activities are free, and it’s a great way to meet new people.”

To become involved visit the Active Older People's Network. The organisation is based in Kirklees but has so far also attracted attention in Lincoln and Sheffield - and hopefully it will spread throughout the UK!

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