Care Home Exercise Activity Trainers

Описание: Age UK Gateshead is offering free low level training sessions to care staff working with older people. Our qualified tutors are already delivering the HowFit training programme within the care home sector, sheltered living and assisted living settings in Gateshead and Newcastle. The training gives emphasis to falls prevention and focuses on mobility, strength, stability, balance and co-ordination in older people. Whilst it's not possible to completely prevent a fall, exercises that focus on balance and strength training can reduce the risk. Gentle cardio vascular exercise is integrated in to the training sessions and all exercises delivered are at a suitable level for care sector residents.

Age UK has researched that falls and fractures in people aged 65 and over account for over 4 million hospital bed days each year in England alone. The healthcare cost associated with fragility fractures is estimated at £2 billion a year. Injurious falls, including 70,000 hip fractures annually, are the leading cause of accident-related mortality in older people. After a fall, an older person has a 50 per cent probability of having their mobility seriously impaired and a 10 per cent probability of dying within a year. Falls destroy confidence, increase isolation and reduce independence, with around 1 in 10 older people who fall becoming afraid to leave their homes in case they fall again.

This programme was created by local Consultant Physician, Dr Steve Parry, who developed HowFit with a personal trainer and professional physiotherapists. Dr Parry said: “HowFit has been designed to include exercises of varying difficulties, meaning that it is suitable for adults of any age, whether you currently exercise or not and without the need for any special equipment. The accompanying website has videos to show you how to do the exercises too.” More information can also be found on the HowFit website at www.howfittoday.co.uk or call Age UK Gateshead on 0191 4773559