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Publications and resourses of the BHFNC and other key organisations can be found on this page.
Active for Later Life
Health Survey for Engalnd 2005 - Health of Older People
Welcome Back to Fitness
Staying Steady
Active for Later Life Resource (G152)
The Active for Later Life Resource aims to help all those involved in developing physical activity programmes for older people of all ages and abilities. It includes summaries of evidence and recommendations, policy and strategic connections, as well as a series of working papers and practical guidance documents and ideas on programming physical activity opportunities for older people. It has been designed for the wide range of national and local agencies with the potential to work with older people to promote physical activity.
The Active for Later Life Resource has been designed to be used:-
- As an advocacy tool for managers and commissioners of health and other services and those involved in the strategic development of programmes for older people.
- As a guide to planning for a range of providers to help increase opportunities for physical activity for older people.
To order the Active for Later Life Resource Tel: 0870 600 6556 and quote reference number 'G152'. This resource has a suggested donation of £20. The Active for Later Life booklet and appendices can also be downloaded in PDF format.
In addition to the resources and publications produced by the BHF and BHFNC this section contains details of relevant resources and publications produced
by external agencies that are useful to professionals working in physical activity for older adults. It will also be updated regularly as new resources become available.
The Health Survey for England 2005 published on 23 March 2007 focuses on the health of older adults aged 65 years and over. The full report consists of five volumes, the first four present the findings on health and older adults which include:
1. General health and function
2. Chronic diseases
3. Social capital and health
4. Mental health and wellbeing
The fifth volume gives details about the survey methodology, design and response.
The survey found that more than half of the participants aged 65 years and over said they were in 'good' or 'very good' health. Both men and women (71%) reported longstanding illnesses, 42% of men and 46% of women stated that their illness limited their activities in some way. The most commonly reported longstanding illnesses reported were musculoskeletal and heart and circulatory diseases. The rate of illnesses increased with age in both sexes.
Objective measurements were recorded to provide information on physical performance. Grip strength was measured to predict upper body strength and lower limb strength was assessed by measuring walking speed, balance tests and chair raises. The mean grip strength declined with age in both sexes. It was also noted that the women who had reported having bad health also had below median maximum grip strength compared to those women who reported having good or very good health. It was found that 14% of men and 25% of women were classified as 'walking impaired' with a walking speed of less that 0.5 meters per second. Walking ability declined with age with 36% of men and 56% of women aged 85 years and over having difficulty walking. The ability to balance also decreased with age as did the ability to get out a chair (without using their arms). More men were able to complete both the balance and chair raise tests than women.
The mean body mass index (BMI) was almost the same for men (27.5 kg/m 2 ) and women (27.7 kg/m 2 ) aged 65 years and over. It was reported that 72% of men and 68% of women were overweight or obese. A greater percentage of men were over weight than women (47% vs 39% respectively) however more women were obese (28% vs 24% respectively).
To download a copy of the HSE 2005 key findings click on the link below:
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hseolder/summkeyfind/file
Each volume of the HSE can be accessed by clicking on the link below:
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hseolder
Welcome Back to Fitness, International Council for Active Ageing
The International Council for Active Aging (ICAA) has produced a toolkit, designed to help older adults initiate or return to a physical activity or fitness programme. The toolkit, entitled ‘Welcome back to fitness’, includes advice on the following topics:
- Questions to ask your doctor about exercising
- Tips on how to become more active in 2006
- Fitness and wellness facility locator (Over 2,000 locations)
- Age-friendly fitness facility checklist
- Personal trainer checklist
- Age-friendly equipment features
- Preferred vendor guide
- Health tips: how to get started, choosing appropriate footwear, walking for health, strength training, balance training, self-assessment tools, tracking your progress, other useful tools, programmes, guidelines and position statements.
To access the toolkit, click on www.icaa.cc/welcomeback.htm
Staying Steady, Help the Aged
Help the Aged have produced a new leaflet Staying Steady which offers practical advice to help prevent falling for everyone whether they are fit, active, frail or anxious about falling. It also gives advice on strength and balance, medicine management, living environments and what to do if you fall. In addition the leaflet contains examples of exercises to strengthen the muscles of your legs and body and to improve your coordination and balance. The leaflet is available free of charge from Help the Aged.
For more information please visit
www.helptheaged.org.uk/AdviceInfo/InfoPoint/_default.htm
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