What are you doing to “age well”?
People in their 50s, 60s and 70s in Telford & Wrekin are urged to ask themselves the stark question - what are you doing to ensure that you’re maintaining your health as you get older?
That’s the challenge from Telford & Wrekin’s Director of Public Health Liz Noakes.
It comes as she publishes her annual report which shows that on average people in the borough develop health problems earlier than the national average, while a number of other measures shows that health in the borough is worse than the average.
On average men and women in the borough both spend longer in poor health, typically in their later years. Nationally for men it is 18 years, but for those in the borough it’s 19 years. For women in the borough it’s 24 years, five more than the national average of 19 years.
Both men and women in the borough also die earlier than the national average for – by a year for men and a year and a half for women.
Liz Noakes is using her report to encourage people, particularly in their 50s and 60s, in the borough that there’s a huge amount they can do to change this and help themselves.
Its publication is at the same time as a national push to encourage people in this age group to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle and there’s a quick online quiz that you can take to rate how you’re doing
Liz is highlighting a number of real life examples where people have decided to take greater control of their health, often by taking some simple steps in their lifestyle, and signposting to the many groups and types of support available in the borough to help you be healthier.
This could be around their diet, taking more exercise or simply getting involved in more social activities such as volunteering or learning to improve mental wellbeing.
The report includes a number of video cases studies of people in the borough who are feeling the benefits after making such changes.
Liz Noakes said: “Speaking as someone in her 50s, we must all realise that it’s never too late to make changes and do what we can to look after ourselves to age well.
“Yes this borough has some serious health challenges. We are working to tackle these and starting to see positive results.
“But there is so much that we can do for ourselves. In the borough we are lucky to have so many people and community organisations that help and I hope that people will be inspired by the stories and videos in the report of people who’ve taken this step and are feeling the benefits.”
Cllr Richard Overton, chair of Telford and Wrekin Health and Wellbeing Board adds: “This should be as a wake-up call for people in this age group in the borough.
“Prevention is better than cure and there’s so much you can do for yourself to lessen the likelihood of needing treatment by acting now to age well.
“There is a great network of groups and organisations in this borough to help us do whatever we can to help ourselves and live a healthier and often happier into the bargain.”
