FEATURE MOVEMENT MATTERS
Amrit Dhaliwal, CEO of Walfinch home care, explains why the company is partnering with the Royal Osteoporosis Society, raising funds for the charity, offering fracture awareness training to its carers, and providing free fitness classes to local communities.
Amrit Dhaliwal, CEO of Walfinch home care, with Craig Jones, CEO of the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
Walfinch is raising funds for the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS). OK, you say, supporting a charity is a good thing – but why ROS, rather than any of the other health care charities? Three words: awareness, activity and community.
All these are important to ROS and to Walfinch. Our aim is the raise £10,000 for ROS this year, and by working together, ROS, Walfinch, our clients and the whole of society benefits.
AWARENESS
Osteoporosis causes bones to lose strength and break more easily, even aſter a minor bump or fall. In the UK, 3.5 million people are estimated to have it – though many don't know it, which is why osteoporosis is called 'the silent disease'.
Having osteoporosis doesn't mean you will definitely break a bone, but it puts you at higher risk. With osteoporosis there are no early warning signs, so oſten the first time people are diagnosed is when they break a bone.
There are many myths about osteoporosis: that it's solely a disease of older women, that it's just part of getting old, and that it's a problem easily solved by taking calcium tablets. The facts are a bit more complicated, and rather more shocking: see box, The Facts About Osteoporosis.
Increased awareness is vital, for people of any age, which is why Walfinch will be directing people to the ROS Risk Checker which allows anyone to check their risk of the condition online.
We're also offering fracture awareness training to all of our Walfinch carers, and featuring ROS tips on prevention and treatment on the Wellness with Walfinch YouTube channel. I will also interview ROS CEO Craig Jones on Amrit's Walking with Walfinch Podcast.
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Raising awareness of osteoporosis means we stand a chance of reducing the number of people suffering pain linked to broken bones. Working for increased awareness also increases visibility for Walfinch branches locally and nationally, and increases visibility and donations for ROS.
ACTIVITY
ROS CEO Craig Jones said: “Osteoporosis and broken bones are not an inevitable part of ageing. I can think of no-one better to help spread this message than Walfinch home care, which is changing lives with its free activity sessions.”
It is preventable, and ROS recommends regular exercise to help keep bones strong and healthy throughout life.
Walfinch knows that increased mobility reduces the risk of many health problems, including osteoporosis. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states: “Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and several cancers. It also helps to maintain a healthy body weight and can improve mental health, quality of life and wellbeing.”
That's why we started our network of local Walfinch Thrive Clubs, as part of our Time to Thrive initiative.
The Thrive Clubs are run by the owners of our countrywide network of offices, and bring activities such as chair yoga, dance and adapted keep fit classes to our clients and anyone in their local communities. All are taught by qualified professionals and are free of charge for anyone. And they are fun.
Personal Trainer Oliver Halls, from Better Days Fitness, who leads exercise classes offered by Walfinch Oxford, said: “People enjoy the exercises, and it's amazing to see the difference it
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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