Keeping fit Exercise class makes a difference across communities
ACOMMUNITY based NHS exercise class that caters for older adults in Gloucestershire is something 80-year-old Wendy Rodwell loves doing.
Taking part in a class at Brockworth Community Centre, Wendy is one of many who exercise with Fit for Life Gloucestershire, co-ordinated by retired firefighter Jon French.
With classes to suit all abilities and fitness levels including chair based, mixed standing and seated and circuit workouts, the work Jon does alongside daughter Kate French and Brockworth Surgery social prescriber Caroline Stone is one where they have huge belief in keeping older adults active, connected with each other and living longer and better lives.
The aim is to help older adults above 50 years of age maintain their independence, resilience, mobility and wellbeing. A dementia friendly organisaion, balance exercises in particular help to reduce the risk of falls and for Wendy herself coming to Fit for Life helps her to keep mobile.
Speaking alongside a fellow class attendee in 79-year-old Carol Tyreman, both collectively reflect that as “we get older we feel it’s important to be active.
“We must use this class or lose it and we both love it. We love the atmosphere and we’re both lucky that this is something to keep us going.”
For Jon as coordinator and manager, he’s been teaching fitness exercise for over 35 years, where he first started out with younger adults before being a champion for older adults keeping their lives active.
“I get a huge amount of satisfaction and every week it brightens up our day because we see the community interact with each other because social isolation is a massive issue but you can see here that we’re helping them,” Jon said.
With classes around Gloucester (such as Brockworth, Hucclecote and Churchdown), Tewkesbury and Cheltenham, Jon adds: “This is vital for the community and the adults can work at their own level. We find that after six to eight months of starting that people joining our class get stronger.
“We interact with over 700 people a week and we hope to reduce falls where we say to them that if you do fall at home you are going to bounce better.”
Jon’s daughter Kate is an instructor alongside her dad. Currently a firefighter as the job dad used to do, Kate says the classes are great for working with older adults. “This is the best part of their week and it’s not just exercising it is socialising to help older adults live as independent for as long as possible. Some do come to us quite fragile but within weeks we see so much improvement in their movement and we give them a better life.
Kate adds: “I think we should look after our older generation because it’s really important and a big part of my life because you feel a lot for the people here as some have lost loved ones. Fit for Life is a big community and we’re here to have fun as well!”
As social prescriber with the NHS at Brockworth Surgery, Caroline Stone feels that Fit for Life bridges the gap for those feeling isolated and lonely to become connected. “When I got together with Jon for the first time here in Brockworth, I knew firsthand this would be wonderful for the community.
“For lots of reasons, I can see so many improvements in the wellbeing of those taking part in Fit for Life. They get social interaction as a lot of people here didn’t know each other previously and now they chat away!
“What we’re doing here is a wonderful thing and when they are visiting the surgery their mood is fantastic.”
You can find out more about Fit for Life here https://www.facebook.com/ fit for life gloucester
We love the atmosphere and we’re both lucky that this is something to keep us going
Wendy Rodwell