Free Swimming Initiative A 'Positive Commitment To Improving Health Of Older People', UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 09 Jun 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Help the Aged has responded to Government plans for free admission to public swimming pools in England for the over-60s, to be set out today by Gordon Brown in a bid to encourage more people to take up sport ahead of the London Olympics. Pamela Holmes, Head of Healthy Ageing at Help the Aged, said:

'At last we are seeing a positive commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of older people. Help the Aged has long called for more emphasis on physical activity for older people.

'The importance of staying active in later life cannot be over-estimated, but for many older people on tight budgets, activities such as swimming are a luxury.

'Free swimming for the over 60s will help those older people who like to swim, and local authorities will welcome the financial support for this programme. But for those people who don't enjoy swimming, or for those with problems such as poor strength, uncertain balance and weak bones, swimming classes offer nothing at all.

'This is a step in the right direction, but we need to stride towards providing a range of options for activity.

'Older people face rising costs of living across the board - the Government must ensure that many of the necessary staples of life are equally affordable.'

Notes

Right care, Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK's largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England. Visit http://www.rightcare.org.uk

Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.

Help the Aged