Older people in Bury St Edmunds learn tips and advice on staying healthy and active

Home news

Sep 16, 2014

A health and wellbeing open day, organised by Care UK in partnership with Suffolk County Council, has helped people in their older years to find new ways of leading an active, healthy and independent life.

The free event on 10 September, which was supported by Age UK Suffolk, NHS Suffolk Wellbeing Service and a range of Suffolk’s health professionals, was held at Care UK’s new Davers Club on Shakers Lane in Bury St Edmunds.

Aromatherapy, healthy eating and hydration were all included, as well as a relaxation workshop held by NHS Suffolk Wellbeing Service and Otago falls prevention exercises by Age UK Suffolk. The day concluded with musical entertainment.

Sue Atkins, Davers Club manager, said: “I am delighted the event was a success, with such a great turn-out and everyone keen to join in and try something new.

“Feedback from the event has been wonderfully positive so, as well as providing a place for older people to keep active and continue their favourite hobbies, we hope the Davers Club will become a valuable community facility with regular informative events like this which help and support the older community, their relatives and family carers.”

Sam Reid, Age UK Suffolk Otago exercise coordinator for west Suffolk, said: “It is really important for people in their older years to keep healthy and active. We would encourage people to get out and try something new.”

The next event at the Davers Club is an informative ‘understanding dementia’ discussion with dementia expert and director of Dementia Adventure, Neil Mapes. The event will be held on 1 October, 12pm-3pm, with free refreshments. Please call 0333 321 1982 to book your free place, or email rsvp@careuk.com

Councillor Alan Murray, cabinet member for health and adult care at Suffolk County Council, said: “It’s great to see such a successful event take place at this very new home, it speaks volumes about the success of the transition and the enjoyment of those now living in the home. Davers Court boasts great facilities and with its friendly and welcoming design I am sure that the residents will continue to be pleased with their new surroundings.”

The Davers Club is adjacent to the new, state-of-the-art Davers Court care home redevelopment, built on Shakers Lane in Bury St Edmunds as part of Care UK’s £60 million investment into older people’s care across Suffolk.

The new care home and club, which opened on 15 August 2014, is the first of two new developments for Bury St Edmunds; the second being a redevelopment of the existing Glastonbury Court care home on Glastonbury Road, which will commence later this month.