‘Happy, healthy and active’ — that’s the Isle of Wight Council’s ambition for its elderly population as residents start to live longer.
A new public health strategy has been approved for the Island by the council’s cabinet body for the year ahead.
Ageing well on the Isle of Wight
Called ‘Ageing well on the Isle of Wight’, it focuses on the importance of staying healthy in your later life to aid Islanders’ well-being and independence.
Speaking at cabinet’s meeting last week, Simon Bryant, the council’s public health director said the ambition moving forward was simple yet important.
He said,
“We will continue to provide and support organisations and services to enable, empower and facilitate us all, to be happy, healthy and active as we get older.”
Nearly one in three Islanders over 65
Latest census data shows, nearly one in three Islanders are aged over 65 — more than 41,000 residents.
It is suggested by 2030 almost 35 per cent of the Island population will be 65 or over.
Staying physically active
The new strategy recommends staying physically active through strength and breathing exercises; staying socially and mentally active to combat social isolation and bad mental health.
A previous strategy was produced in 2018 to focus on the health and well-being of older people, but following the impact of the Covid pandemic, Mr Bryant thought it was an appropriate time to look again at the topic.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Image: Ravi Patel under CC BY 2.0
