Supporting the wellbeing of older people
In this guest blog, Doug Anthoney, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Age Scotland tells us about their wide range of activities to support wellbeing in older people.
Helping people in Scotland aged 50 and older to be as well as they can be is at the heart of what Age Scotland, the national older people’s charity, does. Wellbeing is multifaceted, therefore so are our activities to promote and support it. We enable social connection and friendship, directly and in partnership with community groups, offer information and advice on a range of health topics, and help older people on low incomes boost household finances.
We’re also about fun. Changes made for better wellbeing are unlikely to last if they feel like a chore. That’s why we’ve developed games for community groups that are social, entertaining and include movements that develop strength and balance. Becoming more active is great for mental as well as physical health, with science showing that exercise releases mood boosting chemicals in our brains.
Covid-19 has had upended many people’s lives. Last year we surveyed 3500 people aged 50 and older. A third told us their mental health had become worse over the pandemic. More than half said they felt lonelier, with 8% telling us they felt lonely most of the time. We wanted to dig deeper. What are older people’s perspectives and experiences? And what can we do to help them enjoy better wellbeing? That’s why we’re going on the road with Age Scotland Wellbeing Conversations.
Wellbeing Conversation workshops last a couple of hours and feature two things. The first is an opportunity to find out about and try wellbeing techniques, including a taster of our fun active games, and mindfulness. The second is a facilitated conversation in which participants explore what wellbeing means to them and how, individually, and together, they might boost it.
The way group members realised what wellbeing is, all the different and interacting parts, and how they can add in wee habits to things they already, do is good – especially when they came up with ideas themselves. Thanks for the sessions, it really makes the difference.
Joyce Cattanach: Development Officer, Headway East Lothian
Our starting point is that there’s already vast knowledge about wellbeing in the older population. Collectively, they are the happiest age group. Indeed 11% of our Big Survey respondents said their mental health had improved during Covid-19. By bringing older people together in conversations we can enable sharing wellbeing tips.
But knowing what’s good for wellbeing doesn’t make it easy. That’s why our Wellbeing Conversations draw on behavioural science to show participants to how they might make small, easy, and sustainable changes that help them achieve their wellbeing goals, and that don’t rely on high willpower or motivation for success.
-Doug
To find out more about Wellbeing Conversations email Doug at healthandwellbeing@agescotland.org.uk. The Age Scotland helpline 0800 12 44 222 is available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm for information, advice and friendship.
