09/10/2017
NHS Fife has been celebrating the positive impact that older people make on our society.
This week, as part of Older People’s Day 2017, staff took part in a series of activities aimed at marking the contribution of older people and encouraging a number of rehabilitation patients to become more physically and mentally active.
Nurses, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy staff at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, ran a series of ‘taster’ sessions, which included Zumba Gold and Active Options, the latter being classes run by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust designed to support people with health conditions back into exercise. The weeklong celebration also included a demonstration of the musical reminiscence project, Playlist for Life, pottery sessions, and a visit from Therapets.
Physiotherapist and organiser, Janet Thomas, said there are a number of benefits to becoming more active, especially following rehabilitation: “The theme for this year’s Older People’s Day was enabling older people and providing them with the support they might need to continue to participate in society during old age.
“Many of those who came along this week have been or are undergoing rehab and are consequently more likely to have a fall, which can lead to longer hospital stays and an increased likelihood of long-term care. However, by keeping active – both mentally and physically – they can reduce these risks, whilst at the same time reaping the other physical, emotional and social benefits of exercise.
“As with any endeavour, it is important to find something that you enjoy. If you look forward to an activity then you are more likely to continue with it; this was the idea behind this week’s sessions. This year’s event was a great success and we hope everyone who came along got a flavour of the benefits of staying active. We would also like to thank Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, Active Fife and the Ecology Centre during the week as well as individual volunteers.”