Older people and physical activity

If you are interested in leading physical activity, Age & Opportunity is involved with two physical activity programmes: Go For Life and Activity in Care Training (ACT).

Go for Life

Go for Life activities are run by PALs, or ‘Physical Activity Leaders’to give them their full title. Over the years, we’ve seen the huge impact one or two PALs can make on a group and how becoming a PAL can give someone a whole new lease of life. So what exactly is a PAL? A PAL is someone in your group or community who would be willing to lead his or her group members in some straightforward activities and games. Don’t worry; you don’t have to be Mr Motivator or Jane Fonda to become a PAL. A good PAL is someone who is active in an older people’s group and who is prepared to get up in front of their group and encourage people to take part in activities.

So, if you’re willing, we’ll make you able. Go for Life runs workshops for people who want to become PALs. There are eight workshops and they cover all the skills you’ll need to lead physical activity with your group. The workshops are always fun and are a great way to show you different ways of encouraging groups to be more active.

By now, we’re hoping you’re interested. Maybe you’d like to learn more but don’t want to commit to a full eight days of workshops. Get in touch with Go for Life to find out more.

Activity in Care Training

Activity in Care Training (ACT) is a physical activity programme with a different focus than Go for Life. The ACT programme trains professionals working in residential care centres for older adults to deliver physical activity sessions to their clients in a safe manner. It is accredited through the School of Education and Professional Development in WIT.

The course aims to provide designated staff members in continuing care settings with the specialised knowledge, skills and competencies to design and deliver safe, chair-based physical activity sessions aimed at enhancing and maintaining functional capacity, independence and qualify of life of the patients in long-term care settings.

The 60-hour programme is delivered in a modular fashion, combining theoretical and practical components and takes place both within the classroom (7 training days) and within each participant's workplace under tutor supervision (20 hours).