Achievements of the Active Older People HIT in 2015-16

Professor Selena Gray and Dr Afroditi Stathi, Directors of the Active Older People Health Integration Team give an update on their work in 2015-16.

The Active People:
Promoting Healthy Life Expectancy (APPHLE) HIT aims to improve activity and
health in later life. In middle-aged and older people, physical activity helps
maintain physical and mental function and reduces risk of physical and mental
diseases.

The REACT study
(Retirement into ACTion), led by Afroditi, was awarded £1.64 million by the
NIHR Public Health Research Programme. This five-year multicentre trial targets
people over 65 who are starting to find everyday activities difficult. The
study is recruiting 800 participants into a 12-month physical activity and
social programme, aimed at testing whether a decline in mobility and physical function
can be slowed, stopped or even reversed.

The ACE project
showed the physical health of people at risk of social isolation can be
improved through increased community involvement. However, older people often
cite a lack of motivation and the absence of friends or family to go with as
barriers to getting out and about. Bath University worked with LinkAge over the
last year to extend the project to parts of Bristol. LinkAge has now secured a
three year grant from the Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund to scale up
ACE in Bristol. Following feedback from local older people ACE is now promoted
as the ‘Befriending Plus’ programme.

APPHLE strongly
supports the 20mph speed limits in Bristol’s residential areas. We have
promoted the health benefits of slower speeds, as residents feel roads are
safer and more attractive for walkers and cyclists. In March, Bristol’s full
council debated continued rollout of the initiative. The majority of
councillors and the elected mayor voted in favour, and their support was
reflected in the local press.

We contributed to
the Bristol Health Partners response to the West of England joint spatial plan.
The partnership’s response challenged the four local authorities to ensure
health and wellbeing are significant factors in planning decisions.

South
Gloucestershire Council is running a pilot project to support people aged up to
75 at high risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Participants attend a six-week
self-management course designed to increase their knowledge, skills and
confidence to make lifestyle changes. Sixty participants have completed the
course, with a second cohort under way. Feedback has been very positive and
drop-out rates are low. UWE is evaluating this intervention.

www.bristolhealthpartners.org.uk/apphle