Keeping active for life

People often think that as you get older you can no longer take part in the activities and exercise you have always enjoyed, especially when someone moves into residential care, but that couldn’t be further from the truth!

Indeed, keeping fit and engaging in regular physical exercise has some great benefits in older age. For example, it helps to keep you agile and reduce the risk of falls and it’s also a great boost for mental health too.

Physical exercise plays an important role in the care of our residents and for some of them exercise is still a big part of their lives that they greatly enjoy and appreciate.

Tina Randall, who lives at West Farm, is 91 and loves nothing more than being on the move! She has always enjoyed keeping fit and when she moved into West Farm this has continued. Whether it’s dancing when we invite live entertainers in, joining in weekly exercise classes provided by local community group Justice Prince, or going on regular outings, Tina loves to be involved.

Recently, our wellbeing champion at West Farm, Sarah Jane Avery, took Tina swimming and she absolutely loved it; especially the coffee and sweet treat after working up a big appetite from all those lengths!

And here’s a very interesting fact about Tina: when she was 84, she appeared on the side of buses across Derby, where she used to live, promoting a ‘fitness is for everyone’ message. That’s right, our Tina is famous for her fabulously fit ways!

Sarah added: “It just goes to show that keeping active is not just something you do when younger but is also vital as you get older too. Despite the obvious physical and mental benefits, exercising is such a great love of Tina’s and we’re pleased that we’re able to keep her as active as she likes to be.”

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What people are saying

"I am very pleased with how my mother has settled in and generally how supportive and caring the staff are. This has given us peace of mind knowing that she is safe & well looked after. Thank you."
"Our mum has been a resident at Cramlington House for over a year and we have nothing but praise for the friendly, approachable staff and management. We always feel like part of an extended family and when we visit nothing is too much bother. We are completely happy with the standard of care, support and understanding we all receive as a family."
"From the first day, I knew it was the place for my mum. Clean, friendly staff, lovely environment! My mum would not get the opportunity to do the activities she is experiencing if she was not in Cramlington House. It is home from home and we can visit anytime. I can't say enough of how great Cramlington House is. "
"This is an absolutely superb care facility. The staff say that this is the home of the residents, in which they work - and they evidence that philosophy every day. In the last months of our mother's long life, we took comfort form the fact that she was safe and secure, being well-fed and looked after. The entire care team are brilliant. "
"All the staff at West Farm have provided such wonderful care, compassion and support to my auntie. We both feel incredibly lucky to have found West Farm, it’s been the perfect home for my auntie. I can honestly say, hand on heart, every aspect of the care provided by each member of staff at West Farm has been outstanding."