More support for physical and mental health as we get older in Norwich.
Age UK have launched their Age Healthy Norwich campaign
Last updated 9th Jun 2021
We're being encouraged to think about our physical and mental health as we get older. Age UK has launched Age Healthy Norwich, which promotes things like nutrition, exercise and recovery, as well as other lifestyle changes to help us on our way.
One in four people in the UK aged 55-64 are physically inactive, meaning they do less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week.
This can get worse with age and could lead to an increased risk of many diseases and conditions that affect us in later life such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, stroke and some types of cancer, as well as mental health problems.
Under the campaign, Age UK Norwich will also be re-introducing their full range of physical and social activity groups, plus a new “Still on the Ball” Walking Football Tournament in June and a new regular club in the city.
Jeremy Goss is the corporate relationship manager, as well as former Norwich City player, and says that there are organised groups and activities to get involved in:
“Norwich is renown for one of the happiest places to live… but it’s also one of the loneliest.
We’re encouraging people to mix and mingle and join in with other individuals”
Their website offers information on self-care, to find support to recover from an illness or injury, or get encouragement from other ActivAgers.
ActivAgers are those who are making lifestyle changes and have joined the campaign’s ActivAge 50 challenge. It’s about setting a goal incorporating the number's 5 and 0- from running 5k to swimming 50 lengths, meditating for 50 minutes to walking 50,000 steps, or even 50 minutes of gardening or reading.
The former footballer will also be doing his part in the challenge by doing 500 press ups a day for 5 days.
“My eagerness and enthusiasm to maintain fitness and do exercise is still there, although the intensity has now dropped somewhat because I can’t do what I did when I was 21…. but we can do more activity, we can do more exercise”
Jeremy also told us about the impact the pandemic has had on many of us:
“People are doing less activity or willing to do less Because of the habit they’re now in, of staying at home…Physically and mentally it’s been a huge test for all of us.”
The campaign is all about making small changes to create a big difference and promote a positive view of older age. It’s aimed at helping those over 50 be healthy and active - both physically and mentally – and raise awareness of how this helps us to age better. To find out more, visit the website here