Three snacks a day will keep OAPs fighting fit
Charity get pensioners moving online with 10-min exercise plan
A new exercise plan is helping keep older people active during lockdown.
Professor Dawn Skelton, who is on the board of Roar – Connections for life which supports older adults across Renfrewshire, has helped develop the exercise ‘snacks’.
Each ‘snack’ is 10 minutes long and they are broadcast live three times a day on Facebook and YouTube at 8am, 12noon and 4pm.
They are aimed at older people and those who are shielding because of their longterm health conditions.
The project is called Make Movement Your Mission (MMYM) which has been set up by Later Life Training, a not-for-profit company.
Professor Skelton said: “We have just entered our eighth week of offering three movement ‘snacks’ a day.
“Make Movement Your Mission is not like any other exercise video. Each ‘snack’ lasts about 10 minutes.
“We have now delivered and recorded over 150 of these movement ‘snacks’ and have a keen and loyal following from older couples in lockdown together, those with mobility problems living alone and adults with long term conditions who cannot keep up with most of the online exercise videos available for fitter and more active people.
“The movement snacks tackle vital elements for older people like; mobility, strength and balance for everyday life.
“The aim is to add extra movement minutes across the day and for these to become a habit.
“MMYM is not a structured exercise programme, it’s a way of life to support people in the future and not just during lockdown.”
Clare Robertson, Roar’s Stay Mobile Stay Connected coordinator who has been demonstrating a series of simple exercises for older adults to do at home in the Paisley Daily Express, is supporting the project.
She said: “We work closely with Dawn Skelton. All her work is evidence based and she is also one of our board members.
“We are helping to promote MMYM as it is a really useful resource for older people to have access to.
“If you have the technology or know-how why don’t you give it a go? As lockdown will gradually be easing, it is important to be ready for when the door open and these exercise snacks are just the thing to help get you back out the door safely when the time is right.”
To follow the videos, search for Make Movement Your Mission on Facebook or YouTube.