New group exercise for care home residents in Swindon

We have introduced group exercise to care home residents in Swindon, helping to improve mobility, wellbeing and prevent falls.

The 12-week Senior Games programme, a partnership with Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire and Swindon Sport Partnership with Sports England, is the first face-to-face exercise programme designed for care home residents in Swindon.

Bringing residents together to exercise aims to improve mobility and physical strength, while enhancing emotional wellbeing and building confidence.

Residents enjoy exercise to music and games such as foam javelin throwing, tin-can alley and golf putting. Students from Lawn Manor Academy also support the programme, with both residents and students enjoying the company of different generations.

The activities are accessible to everyone in a social and supportive environment, and participants' physical fitness, mobility and anxiety about falling is measured at the start and end of the programme.

Anyone can experience a fall, but older people are more vulnerable and likely to fall, which can cause serious injury, loss of confidence and a devastating impact on longer-term health.

The health, social and voluntary care organisations involved in Senior Games hope that focusing on mobility and strength will see fewer residents falling and help to avoid preventable hospital admissions, with an average of 350 people admitted to the Great Western Hospital each month following a fall, many being care home residents.

Additional benefits of the programme include improved appetite, more awake time and feeling more positive. 

Senior Games was introduced following the Covid pandemic which highlighted the increased risk of deterioration and falls in older people who are less mobile.

Local care homes which took part include Grove Hill, Ashbury Lodge, Orchid, Edgehill, Fessey House, Ridgeway Rise, Church View, Downs View and Lansdowne Hill.

The next Senior Games will return to care homes in Swindon later in 2024.