Free informational talk on Physical Activity & Ageing Well for Over 50s

Health Life Fitness (HLF) is a local lifestyle and exercise organisation that aims to work alongside GP practices and NHS services to support individuals to improve their overall health, fitness and wellbeing.

HLF has currently worked in partnership with a number of local NHS organisations such as Aspen PCN and Hadwen & Quedgeley PCN to help support older patients and those with pre and type 2 diabetes.

It does this by offering a range of informational talks and functional fitness classes to help people make lifestyle changes to be more physically active, improve their fitness, have a healthy bodyweight, manage their diabetes and stay strong and independent in older age.

I would greatly appreciate it if you are able to display, put on your website, or share on social media (e.g. Facebook, What’s App etc) any details about the informational talks and functional fitness classes (called Senior Strong).  I’ve attached two pdf posters giving more information on these events that can be printed or shared.

I’ve also included additional information below about HLF talks and classes that will be starting in Highnam from September that may be of interest to you as well.

Lifestyle informational talks

HLF runs free lifestyle informational talks for older people about some of the key concepts around Live Longer Better, physical activity, functional fitness, staying strong and independent as well as being able to have a good quality of life in older age. Below are details of the next informational talk:

• Date: Tuesday 9th September
• Time: 13:30 – 14:30
• Venue: The Gambier Parry Hall, Highnam Community Centre, Highnam, Gloucester, GL2 8DG
• Cost: Free to participants (Please note that spaces may be limited)

You can also visit the HLF website for more details about the informational talks here – https://healthlifefitness.org/event/online-seminar-functional-ageing-physical-activity-ageing-well-for-older-people-3-2/

Senior Strong – Functional fitness, strength and balance classes for over 50s

The Senior Strong functional fitnesses classes are starting from the 16th September and will run on a weekly basis. They are aimed to help older adults (50+) to not only maintain and/or improve components of ‘Functional Fitness’ such as strength, endurance, balance, mobility and flexibility, but also to:

• Help support them in making positive lifestyle changes to have better overall health
• Maintain a healthy bodyweight
• Help avoid disease and/or reduce risks of developing health problems
• Manage and/or improve a long term condition like diabetes or osteoporosis
• Be able to do every days tasks more easily and not feel as tired at the end of the day
• Have a better quality of life to be able to keep doing the things they enjoy

Senior Strong class information:

• Venue: The Gambier Parry Hall, Highnam Community Centre, Highnam, Gloucester, GL2 8DG
• Day & time: Tuesdays, 13:30 – 14:30 (starting from 16th September)
• Intensity level: Beginner to moderate
• Cost: £5 per class (the first class is free)

The HLF website link for more information about the Senior Strong classes can be found here – https://healthlifefitness.org/events/   (under Highnam Senior Strong classes)

Background to the Senior Strong functional fitness classes

The concept for the Senior Strong classes were originally set up following a 12 week lifestyle and fitness programme run by HLF on behalf of Hadwen Health in Gloucester for older patients registered at the surgery.

Each weekly session of the programme offered a fitness class which allowed participants to experience a wide range of exercise formats, alongside informational talks on lifestyle topics such as weight management, being more physically active, nutrition / healthy eating, goal setting and overcoming barriers.

After completion of the 12 week programme, participants wanted to continue exercising with ongoing weekly fitness classes that would not only help them to maintain and/or improve their functional fitness, but also create friendships and social support structures, help with weight management and improve confidence and motivation.

If you would like to know more about the Hadwen 12 week programme, I’ve attached a summary brief entitled Hadwen Health’s ‘Patient Health, Fitness & Wellbeing Programme’ for older people that you may find interesting.