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Students help elderly keep fit
STUDENTS at Brighton University are to team up with older people in Eastbourne to help them exercise and be creative.
The project, due to begin in January, will include students of physiotherapy, occupational health and podiatry and is aimed at bringing the generations together.
Older people who join will be given the opportunity to take part in tai chi or croquet classes and physiotherapy undergraduates will work with them on fitness plans tailored to the exercise they would like to, and feel they can manage.
Occupational therapy students will help their older partners be creative and share skills like pottery and cooking, while those studying podiatry will teach them how to look after their feet.
Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson is a supporter of the project, run by the university's Wellbeing, Health and Occupation for Older People group.
He said, "I was fascinated to hear about all the initiatives designed to improve wellbeing amongst older people. This ties in very well with my own role as shadow minister for older people."
Professor Ann Moore, project manager, said, "I think the benefits of inter-generational activities have been shown over a number of projects that we have done.
"The benefits are so strong in terms of what the older people will learn from the students but also what the students learn from older people, not just skills but how to deal appropriately with older people and understand their values.
"It is about the university showing it has a role to play within Eastbourne."
Older people who wish to become involved should call project manager Lisa Hodgson on 01273 641927 or Prof. Moore on 01273 643766.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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