River Clyde Homes has been working in partnership with the Care Inspectorate on a new resource aimed at encouraging everyone who experiences care to keep moving to maintain their health and well-being.

Experts say moving more often every day is a really important way for older people to continue to live well – and even small changes can make a big difference.

Launched at Seafield Sheltered Housing Complex in Greenock, ‘Moving More Often’ is the new easy to read guide for older people experiencing care in their own homes, packed with tips on how to keep active and enable them to move more every day.

The resource was developed as part of the Care about Physical Activity Improvement Programme (CAPA) led by the Care Inspectorate and funded by the Scottish Government’s Active Scotland Division.

It was produced after care at home staff involved in the CAPA Programme said that they needed support to start conversations about increasing daily movement with those they care for.

During development the resource was piloted with care at home and housing support services and people experiencing care in Inverclyde and Glasgow.

Edith Macintosh, head of improvement support at the Care Inspectorate, said: “We all know that keeping active is important for our health and wellbeing and enjoyment of life. It’s particularly important for older people to keep active and to move more each day.

“CAPA is all about building the skills and confidence of social care staff so they can see opportunities for people they support to move more often and keep doing what they can and enjoy doing themselves. It’s often about the little things, for example continuing to brush your own hair and teeth, helping yourself to tea and coffee, dressing yourself, standing up more and walking just that little bit further each day.

She added: “The Moving More Often resource will help people experiencing care and care staff to achieve that and realise people’s potential. I’m delighted to be launching it today.”

Angela Montgomery, sheltered services team leader at River Clyde Homes, said: “Staff at River Clyde Homes have found the new ‘Moving More Often’ resource to be a great support for them to encourage older people living in sheltered housing to participate in physical activity, where able and without risk.

“We have measured the improvement of participants and can see clearly and evidence the very positive impact this has had for many people. We have observed increased confidence and ability and enthusiasm to participate which has resulted in an improved quality of life and improvements in mental and physical health and wellbeing.”

She added: “We have received great support from CAPA staff and been able to meet with other care providers to share best practice and learn from one another. The positive impact means less trips, falls, and accidents and has resulted in fewer hospital admissions and requests for GP’s attendance.”