Why is community important for healthy ageing?

Community helps people stay happy and healthy as they get older. Friends and neighbours provide company, support, and a sense of belonging. Being around others keeps people from feeling lonely, which can hurt their health. Being part of a community encourages older adults to stay active, join group activities, and have a sense of purpose and a positive outlook on life. Communities can also help with daily tasks and provide resources and services. A strong community improves the quality of life as people age.

Why does it matter that communities get involved?

Community ideas are powerful because they focus on the culture and specific needs of an area. This makes the ideas relevant to the people who live there and more likely to work. Local activities are easy for everyone to join as they are close to home. This way, more people can benefit from healthy ageing resources and activities without having to travel far. Working together and taking ownership of healthy ageing initiatives makes them last longer and have a bigger impact on the community.  

Many people find it more enjoyable to exercise when they are part of a group. Community activities provide a fun way to meet up regularly and exercise by doing something you enjoy without having to travel far!

Five ideas to promote healthy ageing in your community!

1. Be social:

• Create regular events like walking clubs, gardening groups, book clubs, or arts and crafts sessions. These help people stay active and make friends. Many local community centres and religious groups run different activities and can be a great place to start.
• Bring different age groups together. Set up mentoring, shared learning activities, and community service projects. These connections build social bonds and reduce loneliness. Different generations have different ideas and ways of thinking. Providing opportunities to bring generations together enriches the lives of both older and younger people. These relationships create mutual respect, learning, and support and lead to a more inclusive society. 

2. Health and wellness classes:

• Organise local health fairs and free health screenings. Workshops on nutrition, exercise, and mental health increase awareness and provide valuable information. Empower older people with the knowledge and skills to manage their health proactively.
• Offer affordable fitness classes for older adults, like tai chi, yoga, or low-impact aerobics. Providing safe and welcoming classes will encourage more people to join in.

3. Age-friendly environments:

• Make the area safer with well-kept pavements, good lighting, and accessible public transport. These changes can make getting around in their communities easier and safer for older adults.
• Create spaces where older adults can gather. Community centres, parks, and libraries are all good options. These spaces should be accessible to everyone, including those with mobility challenges.

4. Lifelong learning:

• Partner with local schools to offer classes on various subjects, from technology skills to creative arts. Learning new things keeps the mind sharp and gives a sense of purpose and achievement.
• Encourage older adults to volunteer and mentor, sharing their skills and knowledge. This benefits the community and keeps older adults engaged and feeling valued.

5. Mental health and emotional wellbeing:

• Provide counselling and support groups for older adults. Positive mental health is crucial for our wellbeing and quality of life. Being socially active reduces stress and anxiety and boosts self-esteem. Feeling like you belong to a community has a huge impact on health and happiness.
• Offer classes on meditation, mindfulness and relaxation techniques. These practices can help manage stress and promote emotional resilience.

What do you want to see in YOUR community?

All of this sounds great, but what if there is nothing available in your area? Many people feel this way, and the good news is that a quick internet search may surprise you! If you feel a bit uncertain about joining a new group, ask a friend or relative if they would like to go with you. Many organisations, such as Age UK and Re-engage, run local activities for older people. You can also check out community websites, local religious groups, and Facebook community pages to find out what’s happening near you.

Nothing on that you’d like to try? Start a new club! Be the ambassador for healthy ageing in your area. Start a book club! Pack some sandwiches and go for a walk with friends. Why not open it up to anyone in your area who might like to join in? Take one of the ideas suggested above and run with it! Make it specific to you and your local community. Which would you like to see happening around you? Which would make the biggest impact? “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” And let’s choose our healthy ageing journeys together!

What do fish and chips have to do with living better for longer?

Fast food can be an easy and comforting part of life. We all know we should eat healthily.  But sometimes we choose a takeaway because it's easy and fast. So, how about making the fast food healthier? That’s just what a community in Newcastle did. They swapped the salt shakers at their local fish and chips shop from a 17-holed lid to a 5-holed lid. This reduced the salt in every meal by 66%! This was a brilliant community-led idea. Small changes, made together, can have a big impact on our health and the health of our community.

Parkrun was another idea that began as a small community choice. Paul Sinton-Hewitt wanted to create a free, weekly event that anyone could participate in, regardless of their running ability. In 2004, on October 2^nd, 13 runners took part in the first run in London's Bushy Park. They recorded times on a piece of paper and used some washers from their local hardware store for tokens! Since then, Parkrun has grown, first across the UK and then worldwide. It has evolved into the global Parkrun event that continues to bring people together for fun and fitness every Saturday morning. Paul wanted to promote fitness, community spirit, and inclusivity through a simple, accessible activity.

Conclusion

In the end, healthy ageing is going to be won by communities. Healthy ageing ideas that fit what you and your community need will have the greatest and longest-lasting impact.

Get in touch and let us know what would be of help in your area! Share your ideas and experiences with us, and let's inspire each other to make a difference in our communities at hello@thelifecurve.com.

Are being alone and feeling lonely the same thing?

No. Every person is different and can be happy with different amounts of social interaction. Some people may be comfortable with having lots of time in their own space, whereas others can be surrounded by people and start to feel lonely. The important difference is how you feel. It is important to recognise that lots of people feel lonely and that you are not alone. This is something we can change. If you are feeling lonely a lot, then there are things you can do to reach out and connect with others.

There can be a stigma around feeling lonely, but we need to change this. The World Health Organisation found that one in four older people feel lonely. The NHS reports that “more than a million older people say they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member.” If you are feeling lonely, it is important to know that you are not alone. This is something that so many people struggle with, and it is essential you are able to reach out to others for support. Many people may feel like this is a difficult thing to do or that they don’t want to bother other people or ask for help. But it is likely that a neighbour or a friend may be feeling the same way. If we all reach out and take small steps every day, we can make a huge improvement in not just our own lives but also the lives and happiness of others.

Becoming isolated from other people can happen for a variety of reasons, especially as we get older. We may have left work, live alone, or find it difficult to get out and about. It can be easy to feel lonely when things like this happen. But this can start to impact our health.

Why is loneliness bad for you?

Did you know the World Health Organisation has recognised that loneliness is a serious threat to our health? Research has shown that it can impact the way we age, our physical and mental health and our quality of life. Feeling lonely is something we need to take seriously. It has been shown to be as bad for your health as smoking, obesity and lack of exercise.

Studies have shown that loneliness can be as bad for your physical health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! This is because feeling lonely frequently or for long periods of time can lead to increased risk of other things which can affect your health, such as heart disease, stroke, anxiety and depression. Reaching out when we feel this way can be hard. That’s why we’ve come up with some things for you to try.

Ten things to try!

1. When you go out, how about going out with a friend? Exercise can not only help your physical health but also your mental health. It can be something you love to do, like going for a walk in your favourite place or maybe a swim at your local pool. Try looking up and smiling at the people around you. Smiling can boost your mood and might just make someone else’s day. Getting out and about can also be more affordable as we get older. Depending on where you live, free bus passes and senior railcards are available to reduce costs. To find out what is available to you, you can look on your local authority's website.
2. Take a class or workshop to learn a new skill. There are so many of these available, and it can be a fantastic way of meeting people who enjoy the same activities you do. You can find classes local to you through a quick internet search. If you feel a bit nervous about trying something new, ask a friend to go with you! Community activity groups might include walking groups, book clubs, bridge, bingo or quiz nights. Connecting with others through local faith groups is also a lovely way to meet new friends. The Silver Line helpline (0800 470 8090) can let you know what's going on in your local area.
3. Volunteering can be a wonderful way to feel valued and appreciated when you are working as part of a team. Volunteers are always needed in a variety of activities. It could be something quieter like reading to children in your local library or primary school. Or something more active like helping to plant trees or keep your local green areas blossoming through gardening. Find out what volunteering you can take part in here: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/volunteering-opportunities
4. Be open to conversations! Have the confidence to chat with the person next to you if you are waiting in line or sitting on a bus. If you are not sure what to say, try asking someone a question about themselves. This can take a bit of practice, but it will get easier every time you try!
5. Invite someone over for tea. Sometimes, we don’t think of doing this because we feel that people might be too busy or assume they might not want to, when in fact, friends and family may love to come and spend some time with you.
6. Re-engage (0800 716 543) is a fantastic organisation that runs free activity groups for people aged over 75. They are a great way for people to stay active and to make new friends. Click here to learn more about the activities they have available: https://www.reengage.org.uk/join-a-group. Or, if you fancy something less active, they also run tea parties for “regular afternoons of conversation and laughter with friends of all ages”. Another great thing about this charity is that they will pick you up and drop you off so there is no need to worry about transport.
7. Call a friend. If you are more comfortable reaching out on the phone, this is a great way to spend time catching up with family and friends. Age UK also runs The Silver Line (https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/helping-you), a free telephone service for people aged 55 and older. You can call them on 0800 470 8090 any time of day and reach someone to talk to about anything you would like.
8. Technology! Learning to use a smartphone, tablet, or laptop can be an accessible way to connect with family and friends. Using technology could give you ways to email family, see their photos online, have free video calls and even allow you to find old friends through social media sites such as Facebook.  Ask a family member if they could show you how to use the technology you’d like to use. Libraries and community centres often have training available for older people to learn computer skills.
9. Join the University of the Third Age! This is a UK-wide collection of thousands of charities which provide opportunities for those who are no longer in work to come together and learn something new for fun. They offer both local and online activities for different ways of joining in and connecting with people all over the UK. Click here for more information: https://www.u3a.org.uk.
10. Download The LifeCurve™ app to take our assessment “Feel less lonely” and discover the local support available to you.

If you would like more information, Independent Age has put together a useful guide on what to do if you are feeling lonely and how to stay connected to others as we become older. You can download the guide here: https://www.independentage.org/sites/default/files/2016-11/Advice-Guide-If-youre-feeling-lonely.pdf.

Conclusion

It is really important to have regular contact with people we value and have good quality interactions with. Feeling disconnected from others or being socially isolated can sometimes cause a faster decline in our ageing process. It can cause increased stress and reduce the amount of sleep you are getting which puts more pressure on your body. Good social connections are essential to our wellbeing. If you are feeling lonely, give our list of things to try a go. Getting out and about is really important as we get older. Plan to do things with your week that you will look forward to. Visit the cinema, a coffee shop, pop into a church service or go to the library. This is your life. Let’s fill it with things you enjoy!