FITNESS & EXERCISE Gym-free Exercise
Encouraging those we support to adopt healthy habits may sometimes feel tricky, though it also presents an opportunity to be creative. Here, Zoe Robson, Lead Exercise Specialist at dementia care operator Belong, shares how simple ideas can achieve substantial results – without the need to set foot in a gym.
When we think of exercise, we perhaps naturally think of gyms and classes as the places where it takes place, and in Belong, we are privileged to work in settings with state-of-the-art gym facilities and dedicated exercise specialists facilitating their use. But this is only part of the picture and it’s important to think beyond the scope of any one place when it comes to promoting exercise.
In fact, fitness can be woven seamlessly into everyday life outside the exercise studio through small, easily implementable actions, the cumulative results of which can prove to be lifechanging. This is good news for care environments without onsite exercise facilities and is equally favourable for customers who aren’t keen on working out in a designated gym setting.
In addition to the health enhancements that exercise can bring, it also plays a crucial role in reducing a common cause for concern for older people: falls. According to the government, every year, around one in three adults aged 65+ will have a fall; this increases to one in two for those aged over 80. Moreover, falls are the number-one reason for A&E admissions for older people in the UK.
Even a stumble can have a huge impact on an older person’s confidence. It might discourage them from eating or drinking because they fear a repeat incident when walking to the bathroom – the psychological impact cannot be underestimated.
- 22 -
With the assistance of support workers, a holistic approach can be taken to support overall wellbeing and in turn, this can help to reduce the occurrence of falls.
PERFECT PLANNING The best place to start is to include fitness within initial
assessment and care planning. Conversations with customers and their family will inform these, based on capability and personal preferences. Find out their interests and any past hobbies; for example, we have a gentleman who used to enjoy boxing, so his exercise specialist has included this in his weekly sessions.
Keep in mind, some may have never exercised. Others may view it as intimidating or might not be comfortable with someone watching them. Whatever the reason, the choice to exercise is personal and it’s important to respect this; nevertheless, there are a number of things we can do to subtly encourage fitness uptake, oſten with very little perceived investment from the individual.
CREATING CULTURE Belong’s approach is based on promoting independence,
encouraging customers to do as much as they can for themselves, rather than others doing things for them. Allowing more time to achieve this may be necessary, though the benefits reaped are worth the investment, and this is why colleagues play a key role in the culture of exercise.
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
