ELDERLY SHOW SPRING IN THEIR STEP AT SETTLERS PARK
It was a fun-filled day for the elderly at Settlers Park Retirement Village last Friday, when they had their very first Spring Walk – the launch of a general wellness initiative started by the Settlers Park care team.
The aim of this walk is to socialise wellness, to get everybody out, especially the lonely and housebound. The walk started off at Hibiscus Room and proceeded around the village dam and to the back of the village, before ending off at the starting point.
“We are trying to create easy and accessible ways for residents to get moving, build strength and resilience, and socialise,” said care manager Susan McGarvie.
“Our Walking Back to Wellness initiative is about creating a culture of walking in the park.
“Walking is a tried and tested way to strengthen bones, reduce the risk and symptoms of chronic conditions, improve mood, make friends and reduce loneliness, increase creativity and improve wellbeing.
“Settlers Park Retirement Village is a beautiful, safe and inviting environment with lovely gardens and wildlife – the perfect place to stretch your legs, take in the fresh air and even meet the neighbours and make friends.
“We are very grateful for all the support from residents and our community partners like Pick n Pay and Leach Pharmacy who have kindly donated our lucky draw prizes.”
The care team are planning to do the walks seasonally, and another one will take place at the beginning of December. The walks will take one hour.
Out of 250 cottages, about 60 people came to the spring walk, and the care team are hoping more people will join in next time.
At the end of the walk there was a lucky draw for the participants who entered their names in the spring walk, and the prizes were biscuits and a nail art kit.