Katie Taylor of the Department for Work and Pension blogs about the UN international Day of Older Persons and why everybody should get involved.
UK Older People’s Day is on 1 October to coincide with the UN International Day of Older Persons. This will be the fifth year the Day has been celebrated in the UK and we hope to build on the successes of previous years. Last year, there were over 3000 events registered, which attracted approximately 700,000 people. The Government and other supporting groups, under the “Full of Life” banner, have made UK Older People’s Day the focus of a wide programme of activity, celebrating later life. The aim is to start to tackle outdated stereotypes about later life by highlighting the valuable contribution older people make to our society and economy and to celebrate their opportunities, achievements and aspirations.
The theme for this year is getting and staying active in later life, which we hope will encourage people to be active and raise awareness of the benefits that physical, social and mental activity brings. Exercise at any age helps people to maintain strength, balance, coordination, mobility and stamina. For older people, exercise at sufficient intensity and frequency can reduce the risk of developing many of the diseases and conditions associated with older age, and improve overall wellbeing. Not only does this improve outcomes for older people, it can also reduce demand for health and social care services.
Hundreds of events are taking place all around the country, on or around the 1 October, registered on our Directgov website. If you are planning an event, this tool will let you promote your event for free. People wishing to attend can search to find out what is happening in their local area. If you have not yet planned an event then you can visit DWP for inspiration and tips to help set up your event.
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