MOVE WITH MARY – Age NI and Lady Mary Peters launch Lockdown Fitness for Older People

• Experts warn lack of movement is storing up next health crisis

Age NI has teamed up with Lady Mary Peters to launch an exercise programme aimed specifically at keeping older people moving during the extended Covid-19 lockdown.

Move with Mary is a series of five exercise videos, to be released online this week, which caters for every level of capability, ranging from simple seated stretches, to balance, strength and gentle aerobic exercises suited to older people.

The launch comes as health experts have warned of the dangers to older people from a lack of regular movement and as UK research* reveals that 40% of older people are worried about the effects of the lockdown on their mental health and physical wellbeing.

Linda Robinson, Chief Executive of Age NI explained, “The British Geriatrics Society has  warned that “lockdown and social distancing measures have led to dangerously low levels of physical activity in older people, which, if not addressed as a matter of urgency, will prove to be detrimental to their physical and mental health”.

“Our real concern is that this is storing up the next health crisis for our older population. We need to do all we can to avoid further loss of independence or the need for additional medical treatment in the future.

“That’s why we wanted to do something to help older people to keep moving while at home. With the success of Joe Wicks and his online school PE classes, we thought we could do something similar. With Move with Mary, we’re going to give Joe Wicks a run for his money!”

Lady Mary Peters said, “To me, movement is life; it’s so important as you get older to keep active. These exercises are nice and gentle, and trust me, they will help you to feel good during this difficult period of lockdown. Hopefully we can create a little virtual community of what I’m calling my “golden oldies” all doing these daily workouts together.”

The Move with Mary exercises will be available as a download from www.ageni/movewithmary from TUESDAY 23 JUNE with the series of five short workout videos being released across this week on Age NI’s social media on facebook.com/agenicharity, Twitter @Age_NI and Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/agenitv