Dame Esther Rantzen joined Sheffield Hallam University yesterday (14 May) to make the case for supporting older people to remain active and maximise independence.
The 'Ageing Actively' event examined new research and innovative approaches to help older people remain active. Over 200 people from around the country and across healthcare professions and charities were on campus to listen to a keynote speech by Dame Esther.
Sheffield Hallam University are leading experts in rehabilitation, which is crucial in helping people recover well from injury and illness. Rehabilitation across a number of areas can allow people to remain active into their older years and helps prevent future injuries and illness.
This can take the form of taking part in events as part of a regular social group, or undertaking light exercise such as dance to help promote physical activity.
Dame Esther is well a known campaigner who is also the founder and president of The Silver Line, a helpline for older people which provides information, friendship and advice 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Nationally launched in November 2013, it received 300,000 calls in its first year.
Dame Esther Rantzen said: “The reality is that older people should be valued as a tremendous asset to society. Older people keep families functioning, they form the bedrock of the charitable sector and their skills and experience make an invaluable contribution. It's in everyone's interests to help older people age actively so that they can stay healthier for longer.
“It's fantastic to see so many people from across healthcare professions, charities and older people themselves come together at Sheffield Hallam University to make the case for ageing actively. Learning about new research and techniques that can help make older people feel empowered and become active is invaluable.”
Sheffield Hallam is one of the largest providers of health, social care, sport and physical activity education in the UK. The university boasts numerous research centres that develop new solutions to aid older people age actively.
