Why are the hospitals under so much pressure?
The obvious answer is covid-19 patients but it wouldn’t be the right one, well, not directly but is it the indirect cause.
Frail senior patients are blocking up hospitals more than they ever have. This is a complex picture with the difficulties in the care sector obviously playing its role.
At Walnut Grove for 30 years, we have been keeping our seniors healthy and mobile – this limits frailty, reduces risks of falling and lowers morbidity and mortality – helping to keep people out of hospital.
It’s hard to believe that covid has played a role here but the pandemic has kept people indoors, kept them away from friends and family and most crucially has stopped them going out to be active in whatever form that takes – such as walking.
It is proven without doubt that exercise/activity outside of the home (not necessarily outside), with others, contributes hugely to strength, stability, balance and mental health particularly in our older population but actually in everyone. It’s a more noticeable decline in the older population as they start from a lower point and as in all things the older you get the faster things go downhill!!
What can you do about it?
Are you older and feel stuck at home since covid or do you look out for an older relative or friend?
If so, this is for you.
This is walking for health month – so if you can, get outside and walk. If you don’t feel confident alone, go with a friend. Take a walking pole or even better 2, giving you extra stability, and gives you confidence. Exercise in the fresh air is great for physical and mental health.
On the subject of walking poles – they are not for old people; they are for people who walk!! Don’t use a walking stick instead, it changes your posture when you walk and you are better balanced with a pole. If you use 2 poles it exercises your arms too, getting blood flow charging through more parts of your body.
I do appreciate it’s winter, so if you don’t want to exercise outside come and join one of our classes. Again, exercising with others is great for confidence, safety and mental health. If you are worried about covid we are running very carefully with limited numbers, marked out boxes and a range of protocols to keep you and the staff safe.
Our classes include physio led seated Pilates with Tanya. Sally offers a range of classes for heart and respiratory health and structured exercise for balance, stability and strength.
Being fitter and healthier makes you more resilient to all the bumps in the road that comes with a longer life. That message for some reason isn’t being pushed by the government but it is clear that staying out of hospital is good for you and the NHS.
We should all be playing our part in that – so with Christmas coming up, promise yourself or a relative/friend the gift of being healthier and happier in 2022 by being more active and getting fitter. We do have gift vouchers so if someone you know needs a nudge, it could be the perfect gift!
