DEMENTIA
Keep on moving
Older people are marching, dancing and clapping to keep active at popular sessions,
reports Jack Butler.
A
ccording to the Mental
Health Foundation, studies
have found physical activity
can cut the chances of
people aged over 65 from developing
dementia; and, for people who have
already developed the disease, physical
activity can help to delay further decline.
The half-hour sessions at the
council’s Michael Flanders Centre, in
Acton, involve specially designed chair-
based exercises to provide a gentle
but useful work-out. They are put on by
18
around ealing October 2018
StayActive4Life and one of its personal
trainers Joe McCarthy said: “We put
some music on and it is a nice way to
start the day. We do marching in the
chair, stretching and mobility. Then we
play around with different equipment
like plates and bottles filled with seeds
that we shake around, which is quite a
fun way to get exercise.”
Jean and Anne, both attend the
sessions once a week, Anne said: “It is
nice. It gets you going and helps you
move your joints.”
Jean (pictured above)
said: “When I was
young I used to dance
and I am still doing it
now as much as I can.”
According to the
Ealing Public Health
annual report for 2017-
18, more than 2,200 of
the borough’s over-65s
have been diagnosed
with dementia, which
represents 77% of our older population.
This is projected to grow to more than
5,000 people by 2035 as the population
grows and ages.
Councillor Binda Rai, the council’s
cabinet member for adult services, said:
“We know that dementia diagnoses are
increasing and will continue to into the
near future. Projects like this are a step
in the right direction at looking after
the growing number of residents who
having to live with dementia.
“The council has always championed
physical activity, particularly through its
Get Moving campaign, and this project
encourages more physical activity because
it demonstrates that, regardless of age,
you can spend time with other people
and keep active at the same time.”
Funding for the project has
come from the South Acton Estate
Community Board.
Read more, and watch a video,
at ealingnewsextra.co.uk/
features/sit-and-move