Helping elderly become strong and steady – to beat loneliness
A NEW project which aims to tackle loneliness among elderly people by encouraging them to be more active and prevent injuries from falls is being introduced across England’s largest county.
The Strong and Steady pilot, launched in Harrogate earlier this year, targeted older people who are at risk of falling, which council bosses say can lead to a loss of confidence, mobility and social isolation.
Now the information sessions have been expanded across North Yorkshire with 13 new community specialist classes, offering advice about healthy eating, winter warmth, exercise and how to prevent falls for over 65s. An estimated 30 per cent of people older than 65, and half of those over 80, are at risk of falling at least once a year, council information suggests.
The project, run by North Yorkshire Sport and Age UK, was handed £300,000 worth of funding by North Yorkshire County Council’s public health team and its Stronger Communities programme. It has been launched as awardwinning Loneliness: The Hidden Epidemic campaign marked its fourth anniversary this year.
County councillor David Chance, executive member for Stronger Communities, added: “One of the main aims of Stronger Communities is to support people in living independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. The work being done through Strong and Steady has been shown to improve people’s mobility and core strength, making them more able to take part in social activities, reducing the risk of loneliness and social isolation.”
The new sessions are now being rolled out in Settle, Northallerton, Thirsk, Harrogate town centre, Knaresborough and Ripon. Meanwhile, there will also be classes in Catterick, Leyburn, Malton, Filey, Scarborough town centre, Selby town centre and Sherburn in Elmet.
The new programme also aims to help people establish their own community sessions, and support those who attend to take over and run sessions themselves with training and support. The six-month pilot version of the project began in Harrogate in April.
David Watson, chief of North Yorkshire Sport, which helps run the sessions, said the benefits of the sessions for elderly people had been “enormous”, and added: “This has been a great partnership with the county council’s Stronger Communities programme, and following the success of the pilot class we are thrilled to be able to offer Strong and Steady sessions right across North Yorkshire.
“The positive benefits to attendees have been enormous, and we look forward to the classes helping many more people become more active, not only helping to reduce trips and falls, but also offering a wider range benefits to their daily lives.”
has been campaigning to highlight the devastating health effects of loneliness, which can be as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, since 2014. The award-winning Loneliness: The Hidden Epidemic campaign was to tackle the scale of social isolation in the region, which takes it toll on 91,300 older people.
People can be referred to the new classes by health professionals, including GPs, or from existing clinics or classes. People can also refer themselves. Contact 01423 226303 for details.