Age & Opportunity CarePALs
Age & Opportunity in partnership with the HSE Health Promotion Dept. would like to invite you, or members of your staff, to take part in our upcoming CarePALs workshops to be held in Cork on Tuesdays 4th & 11th of October (9.30 -4.30pm) SMA Wilton Parish Centre (T12AX94). Participants must be available to attend both day long workshops in full. Closing date for applications is Friday September 30th 2022 (see contact details below).
Age & Opportunity is the National Programme for Sport and Physical Activity for Older People. It is an Age & Opportunity Initiative funded and supported by Sport Ireland. Age & Opportunity has worked in partnership with Local Sports Partnerships and HSE Health Promotion offices since 2001, to empower older people not only to be more physically active themselves but also to lead their peers in physical activity. This has been achieved through a programme of workshops where more than 2000 older people have trained as PALs (Physical Activity Leaders) and almost half are still leading activities within their own groups all around the country every week.
Over the last few years Age & Opportunity has seen a dramatic increase in requests to take part in Physical Activity Leaders workshops from those working in both day and residential care settings. As PALs workshops are designed to meet the needs of independent older adults we feel that they are not meeting all the needs of those working in care settings. To this end we have developed a specific adaptation of the workshops aiming to empower those working in day and residential care settings to lead suitable physical activities with older people who live in or visit their setting. The leadership model developed by Age & Opportunity means that physical activity sessions can be delivered by staff and therefore included as part of the daily or weekly routine without cost to the care setting.
The expected outcomes of this intervention are:
- Enhanced health of older people in care
- Staff of care settings enabled to lead Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Sessions for older people with varied levels of ability on a regular basis
- Increased awareness of social, psychological and physical benefits of physical activity for older people of all ages and abilities
- Opportunities for those promoting physical activity in care settings to network with peers
Participants do not need to have any background or formal experience in leading physical activities but they must be working in a care setting and have a commitment from their employer that they will be enabled to lead physical activity back in their own care setting following participation in CarePALs. As funding for these workshops has been secured from the HSE there will be no charge to participants. Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided.
Casual leisurewear and appropriate footwear should be worn.
For further information please contact Marta Kolasa, HSE Health Promotion Dept. Tel: 021- 4921641 Email: Marta.kolasa@hse.ie
