FITNESS & EXERCISE Access for all Activities
David Ashton-Jones of Homes Together, discusses the importance of fitness and exercise when caring for disabled people and how these support with wellbeing.
Fitness and exercise are crucial when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle and it is important that we ensure disabled people are able to access these kinds of activities.
Studies have shown that exercise is even more beneficial for disabled people, especially those with limited mobility as it can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Exercise has been proven to boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing the risk of stress and clinical depression.
With a lack of accessible transport and limited options for accessible attractions, pubs, clubs and events, disabled people can find it difficult to connect with peers and may also feel anxious at the thought of doing so. Exercise-based activities such as sports can be a great way to build confidence and make connections with others that share the same interests. This also helps to make them feel as independent as possible.
Many of the service users at Homes Together are big fans of sport and we encourage them to engage in a wide range of physical activities. Our team are enthusiastic about serving the practical, social, and emotional needs of the people we support and always go above and beyond to facilitate activities.
We have a focus on bringing new experiences to service users and show that sport can and should be enjoyed by all. One shared interest across services is rugby, with many who we support regularly attending games. In addition, we are proud to sponsor learning disabilities team which is part of the newly promoted Super League club, Leigh Leopards. This is something that many disabled people may be discouraged from or anxious about trying so having dedicated teams is a fantastic way to build confidence.
Many of our service users also enjoy swimming and access the pools we have available across the Harrogate district and Gateshead. We are very lucky to have a swimming club, in Harrogate, namely Harrogate District swimming club, who have a squad called Hotshots which supports children and young
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adults with either physical or learning impairments. Swimming is a low impact sport that is a good workout for the full body so is a perfect activity for people that have limited mobility.
As a care group we recognise the importance of organisations that cater for people with differing needs as they allow for everyone to enjoy the physical activities that they are interested in. Through sponsorships, we try to give back to the organisations that allow our service users with additional needs, to partake in the sports that they enjoy – also helping ensure they are available for people that need them for years to come.
Each Homes Together site has a full calendar of activities throughout the year that promote a healthy lifestyle, whilst introducing our service users to new experiences.
“Exercise has been proven to
boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing the risk of stress and clinical depression.”
As care providers is imperative that we ensure that the people within our care have access to a wide range of activities that stimulate both the body and the mind. Fitness and exercise are important for a wide range of reasons, from encouraging social interaction to the endless health benefits. We are passionate about highlighting the strength of disability and work hard to promote positive relationships between physical activity and the opportunities it can give to disabled people.
https://homestogether.co.uk www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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