I've only missed a handful of mornings at the weekly Keep Moving Group. It's part of my week and has been for the last 3 years.
It all started in October 2022 with exercises led by a physio from a Community Interest Company called Spot Wellbeing. They started several other groups in East Suffolk and some, like our group, carried on after the six weeks thanks to another 12 weeks of funding from another CIC, we then took over to fund and operate the group ourselves. That second CIC lost all their funding and were disbanded early this year and now Spot Wellbeing have lost their funding to start new groups in other villages. Now they are only funded for people who are referred to them by their doctor and...............
- They must have multi-morbidities / complex health and wellbeing needs.
- They must be over 50 years of age.
Or:
- High user of primary care services
So much for prevention - which is what our group and all the other groups were started for, with exercises to help balance and movement and to help stop older people ending up in hospital from falling.
It's sad that people in other villages won't get a chance to start their own groups.
Every now and again our numbers drop down to 7 or 8 and then I put a note about the group on all the local village Facebook pages and luckily that seems to work as we find some new people to join us. We do everything ourselves, with two or three ladies able to lead us working through a list of exercises, getting chairs and tables out, making coffee, sorting the meditation on a phone and one lady brings her CD player for some music. It only costs us £1.50 a week as we only need to cover hall hire and coffee/biscuits.
This is our favourite 10 minute meditation
Back tomorrow
I think most doctors, scientists and researchers agree now that keeping moving is key to a longer, healthier life. Just one small walk each day has a big effect. Wonderful that your group keeps going and that you manage to find new members through Facebook. What a shame our national health service doesn't take preventative medicine more seriously, it would definitely reduce the amount of people that end up in hospital for all manner of things.
ReplyDeleteThe CIC were doing such a good job of starting these groups - I'm so glad we were able to carry on.
DeleteThat's great you have managed to keep the group going. My husband and I attend a weekly group doing Tai Chi and exercise, we also have a short wind down part to the session with breathing and meditation. It is run by a wonderful trainer and we pay £5 per session most of which goes on ball hire. We have been going for 14 years and it is money well spent as our balance is very good. We also walk a couple of miles every day. It is sad there is not more funding available for these sort of preventative, well being exercise classes/groups. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteKeeping moving is the key to keeping joints working. Seems to be good for us - I know when we miss a couple of weeks at Christmas it seems hard work the following week.
DeleteThe CIC funding seems to be backwards. Better, surely, to prevent multi-morbidities before they start.
ReplyDeleteIs the end of your meditation accompanied by gentle snores?
Haven't heard snoring yet - we are far too ladylike!!
DeleteThanks for sharing your favourite mediation-I shall try it after a potentially stormy Teams meeting this afternoon. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI still find it difficult to "breathe into my feet" as one of our 10 minute meditations asks us to do!
DeleteSelf organisation is a good thing and long live groups like yours that keep us moving and get us out of the house regularly.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I just hope we can always find someone to lead us through the exercises, I don't mind doing it but it makes me so hot and sticky - not a good look!
DeleteSounds like a good group to keep you moving. I'm lucky that my insurance pays for membership to my local fitness center where I go for Zumba classes every Thursday (going today!). I can also use the weight machines, walking track, and go to other classes if I want.
ReplyDeleteThat's a handy insurance to have.
DeleteYour Keep Moving group is operating very well. The efficiency is outstanding, and all done by your group members. Exercise is so good for health and wellbeing.
ReplyDeleteIn the US profitability is the driver. Generally, nobody does anything without being compensated.
I hope your group continues on. Well done, Sue!
It's a shame that the Community not profit group lost their funding. So many other villages could have benefitted
DeleteSo shortsighted only to fund classes for people already with problems. Preventive care is so much better. But then my health insurance doesn't cover prevention, yet it's so much more expensive to attend people after they're sick and unfit. I do my own prevention, walking, exercising, good food, all that.
ReplyDeleteMoving and balance is the key, so many older people end up in hospital after falls and then take a long time to get well again
DeleteI am so glad that you have managed to keep the group going. Here about the only inexpensive exercise is walking the indoor track.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It is sad that there aren't more groups. Glad you were able to keep yours going!
ReplyDelete