THURSDAY, 31 MARCH, 2016

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PHOTOGRAPH ATTACHED- L-R – STUDENT KIRSTY MACDUFF, SPORTS AND FITNESS LECTURER AT PERTH COLLEGE UHI LISA DODS, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SOCIOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GRENADA MARIANO SANCHEZ, NHS TAYSIDE FALLS SERVICE MANGER CAROLYN WILSON AND STUDENT LORA KETTLES

Perth & Kinross Care Home Physical Activity Project wins award

The Perth & Kinross Care Home Physical Activity Project has received an outstanding achievement award for intergenerational work.

The project scooped the award at the national Generations Working Together conference in Glasgow.

The intergenerational project provides a 12-week activity programme for care home residents incorporating strength and balance exercises, chair-based exercises and activities for residents in nine local care homes in Perth and Kinross.

The innovative programme is run in partnership between Perth College UHI, NHS Tayside, Perth & Kinross Council, Live Active Leisure, Paths for All Scotland and care homes across the region.

Fitness, health and exercise students at Perth College UHI work with the care home residents and provide a range of exercises, physical games and activities to improve physical mobility.

NHS Tayside falls service manager Carolyn Wilson, sports and fitness lecturer at Perth College UHI Lisa Dods and students Lora Kettles and Kirsty MacDuff were presented with certificates and a trophy at the award ceremony in Glasgow.

Carolyn Wilson said, “There have been considerable benefits to this project. The care home residents loved interacting and doing the exercises with the students and looked forward every week to their arrival. The intergenerational working created so many benefits for all involved and the outcomes were amazing.”

Lisa Dods said, “The students have enjoyed delivering the physical activity programme to the residents in the local care homes and have seen an improvement in the residents’ abilities over the weeks. The project has been mutually beneficial, has strengthened links to local partnerships and we hope to continue the project each year.”

Contact:

Debbie Huband

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740134