Galway City Council and HSE Community Services in Galway have joined together to support older people to take care of their health and wellbeing over the coming months by producing a 20-page booklet and series of accompanying videos.
The Keep Well campaign aims to show people of all ages how they can mind their own physical and mental health by adding healthy and helpful habits to their daily and weekly routines.
The booklet provides a range of practical advice, focusing on the key themes of keeping active, staying connected, switching off, eating well and minding your mood.
It provides guidelines, information, and tips on how we can make a plan to do things that will help us keep well through the coming months.
Explaining how the campaign came about, Alma Joyce, HSE Occupational Therapist Manager said that there are concerns about the effects that the pandemic is having on older people’s health and wellbeing.
“We want to provide practical advice on staying active and encourage older people to keep a routine, engage in their everyday activities, stay connected to family and not hesitate to reach out if help is needed,” said Alma.
Dr Michelle Canavan, Consultant Geriatrician at Galway University Hospital, added that she has seen the need for older people to make positive changes to their routines on a daily basis in her clinic.
“Individuals need to keep moving, a short walk around the house or garden. Do something you enjoy in the morning and in the afternoon.
“We can all do something to actively minimise the effect that this pandemic is having on our health,” she said.
