CLOSING THE FITNESS GAP TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR SOCIAL CARE
This dramatic diagram from the Guidelines on Physical Activity. produced by the four Chief Medical Officers illustrates the potential for improving strength and balance, and therefore mobility and independence and the ability to help others, and therefore reduce the risk that one will need social care. Of course if some acute event occurs like a major stroke then a person may need social care no matter how fit and able they were but the message is clear- the closer people are to their optimal ability the less likely they are to need social care. Furthermore the gap can be closed at any age no matter how many long term conditions a person may have
This dramatic diagram from the Guidelines on Physical Activity. produced by the four Chief Medical Officers illustrates the potential for improving strength and balance, and therefore mobility and independence and the ability to help others, and therefore reduce the risk that one will need social care. Of course if some acute event occurs like a major stroke then a person may need social care no matter how fit and able they were but the message is clear- the closer people are to their optimal ability the less likely they are to need social care. Furthermore the gap can be closed at any age no matter how many long term conditions a person may have
REDUCING THE NEED FOR SOCIAL CARE 2.0
As well as reducing the probability that a person will need to start receiving social care taking action on the four Live Longer Better priorities - preventing physical disease, preventing dementia , increasing physical activity and increasing creative activity, can reduce the amount of care an individual already receiving social care needs to receive. This we call reducing the need for social care 2.0. Care England has published an excelllent report titled from Inactivity to Independence which provides a good framework.
DEVELOPING A NEIGHBOURHOOD SOCIAL CARE ACTIVITY PROGRAMME
Every Neighbourhood will already be focused on social care because of its impact on hospital admission and discharge but it is also important to develop a workstream within this which focus on the need to ensure that people receiving social care have the opportunities and support to increase physical activity and creative activity. This requires a cultural revolution because of the commonly held belief in the public that 'care' simpy means doing things for people. Obviously some people need assistance with some tasks but a culture needs to be created which encourages and facilitates physical and mental activity to enable people to not only maintain but also improve their physical and mental fitness and ability
W:ISH
There is no upper age limit to the ability to improve fitness and regain lost ability. The scientific evidence is also clear that people with multiple long term conditions can improve fitness and regain lost ability. Obviously NHS rehabilitation services have a vitally important part to play led by specialists in geriatric medicine and by physiotherapists and occupation therapists but trainers and exercise professionals also have a key contribution in supporting what is called reconditioning. The image from the Chief Medical Officers’ report on Physical Activity illustrates this clearly
Obviously one of the main reasons for making physical activity a Live Longer Better priority but it is also essential that people who are receiving social care are given the knowledge that exercise can help them feel and function better and information about what they can do by themselves or with others and W:ISH will enable this
As well as reducing the probability that a person will need to start receiving social care taking action on the four Live Longer Better priorities - preventing physical disease, preventing dementia , increasing physical activity and increasing creative activity, can reduce the amount of care an individual already receiving social care needs to receive. This we call reducing the need for social care 2.0. Care England has published an excelllent report titled from Inactivity to Independence which provides a good framework.
DEVELOPING A NEIGHBOURHOOD SOCIAL CARE ACTIVITY PROGRAMME
Every Neighbourhood will already be focused on social care because of its impact on hospital admission and discharge but it is also important to develop a workstream within this which focus on the need to ensure that people receiving social care have the opportunities and support to increase physical activity and creative activity. This requires a cultural revolution because of the commonly held belief in the public that 'care' simpy means doing things for people. Obviously some people need assistance with some tasks but a culture needs to be created which encourages and facilitates physical and mental activity to enable people to not only maintain but also improve their physical and mental fitness and ability
W:ISH
There is no upper age limit to the ability to improve fitness and regain lost ability. The scientific evidence is also clear that people with multiple long term conditions can improve fitness and regain lost ability. Obviously NHS rehabilitation services have a vitally important part to play led by specialists in geriatric medicine and by physiotherapists and occupation therapists but trainers and exercise professionals also have a key contribution in supporting what is called reconditioning. The image from the Chief Medical Officers’ report on Physical Activity illustrates this clearly
Obviously one of the main reasons for making physical activity a Live Longer Better priority but it is also essential that people who are receiving social care are given the knowledge that exercise can help them feel and function better and information about what they can do by themselves or with others and W:ISH will enable this