Don't ignore older people in new fitness drive, Help the Aged warns Government

Responding to the announcement today by the Department of Health that the government is to promote sport and active recreation in advance of the 2012 Olympics, Pamela Holmes, spokesperson at Help the Aged said:

"While it's good news that the government has woken up to the benefits of an active lifestyle, it seems that older people have been overlooked again by ministers in their quest to build a fitter Britain.

"Government policy should be directed at encouraging older as well as younger people to get physically active. To focus solely on the younger generation would be blatant age discrimination. Given the ageing population it's very depressing that the Department for Culture, Media & Sport continues to ignore older people as part of their physical activity work. If the government is to meet their targets to increase levels of physical activity then they will rely on more older people getting active. It seems the DCMS are disinterested in older people.

"Research shows that promoting physical activity among older people has enormous benefits for health. To that end, the government would best serve the nations' well-being by ensuring that everyone can get involved in projects such as volunteering to work at the Olympics in 2012 - regardless of their age. Without a fit and active older generation, the country will undoubtedly suffer mounting costs for health care.

"Help the Aged is playing a lead role in establishing the National Coalition on Active Ageing to promote healthy, active lifestyles. The Coalition will seek to convince government to better communicate the benefits of regular exercise among the over 50s to help reduce isolation, immobility and disability. By involving older people directly in its campaigning work, the Coalition hopes to draw attention to the many benefits of a more active lifestyle and reduce the burden on the Treasury to meet costs of health care."

eNews issue 58