Older Thame residents take control of their health and wellbeing at special community event
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust held an older people’s health and wellbeing day at Thame Community Hospital on 21 October. 35 people attended the event which set out to educate local residents about their health and wellbeing, as well as raise awareness of the local services available to support them.
People were able to chat to Trust staff, alongside representatives from partner organisations and charities such as Healthy Minds, Carers Bucks and Carers Oxford, Thame Hospital League of Friends and Age UK. They could also visit stalls to check their blood pressure, measure their height and weight, assess their continence, fitness and balance and have their feet checked and massaged.
Many found the day extremely useful and said that they would be extremely likely to recommend future events to a family member or friend. One attendee said the event was an “extremely good idea and great for meeting other people. Please do more.”
The Trust is currently considering making the Thame health and wellbeing day an annual event, as well as how it could be used as a blueprint for similar events at other Trust community sites across Buckinghamshire.
Jenny Ricketts, Director of Community Transformation at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust said: “We are so pleased at how well-received the health and wellbeing day was. These kinds of events are a great opportunity for us to better understand the needs of our local communities and how we can best support them in taking control of their own health. As a health and care organisation, building healthy communities is a key priority for us and in Thame health and care for older people is an important area of focus.”
Thame Community Hospital is home to many clinics including a community assessment and treatment service (CATS), the day hospital and several other frailty services.