Successful project for older people to be expanded
Last updated | 16/05/2008
An innovative project that aims to help older people in Perth and Kinross stay fit, active and healthy is set to be expanded thanks to £120,000 of funding from the Council and Community Health Partnership.
The Housing and Health Committee will be told about plans to develop the Perth and Kinross Healthy Communities Collaborative following its success over the last few years.
The Healthy Communities Collaborative was first established as a one-year pilot project in Perth and Kinross in March 2005, led by the Council and Perth and Kinross Community Health Partnership.
Its original aim was to reduce the number of falls and increase physical activity in the over-65 age group by involving community groups and organisations working with older people in Blairgowrie, Crieff and Perth.
The initiative involved older people working together as teams to reduce falls within their communities. Projects carried out included:
• Designing falls awareness poster to be displayed on local buses
• Promoting regular sight tests
• Promoting medication reviews
• Holding safety in the community events
• Promoting an active lifestyle through easily accessible activities
The scheme resulted in a reduction in the number of falls within project team areas, an increase in community spirit and a reduction in social isolation for those taking part.
Following this success funding was secured for a further year to March 2007, and the project was developed to take in Tulloch, Coupar Angus and Aberfeldy. Since then the project has appointed a permanent full-time project manager and project support worker.
A meeting of the Housing and Health Committee on Wednesday 21 May will hear that funding of £120,000 has now been secured for the project to continue into 2009/10 (£60,000 each from the Council and the Community Health Partnership).
The scope of the Collaborative’s work will be expanded to address mental health and well-being in later life, and another project support officer will be employed. A steering group made up of representatives from various agencies such as the Council, NHS Tayside, PKAVS and the Community Health Partnership will continue to oversee the work of the Collaborative and provide advice.
Housing and Health Vice Convener, Councillor Alasdair Wylie, said: “Staying fit and healthy is extremely important for older people. We are seeing an increase in the population of older people living in Perth and Kinross, so it is very important that we work in partnership with other agencies to support these older people and help them lead independent and active lives.
“The Collaboration staff, along with the teams of determined older volunteers, have done a magnificent job so far and deserve our congratulations. The volunteers know their communities and the issues affecting their peers, and have done some fantastic work to reduce falls and help tackle social isolation.
“I am delighted that we have put the funding in place for this excellent work to continue and develop. This is an innovative project that produces very positive results in our communities.”
Convener, Councillor Peter Barrett, added: "The collaborative is an excellent example of best practice in Scotland. It empowers local communities and individuals to take control of their own lives, transforming their role from an old fashioned view of elderly people of simply being passive recipients of services to encouraging and enabling them to participate fully in coming up with their own solutions and implementing them. It makes best use of the huge wealth of talents and experience which our elderly people possess and which we need to draw upon."
