Support sessions run for older people in the local Afro-Caribbean community by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust staff have received ‘100% positive’ feedback.
The sessions were part of the Wycombe Multicultural Organisation’s (WMCO) six-week health and wellbeing programme.
Between 15th July – 19th August, senior citizens attended weekly Friday meetings at Hilltop Community Centre in High Wycombe, where they received a free health talk and took part in light chair exercises as well as socialising and enjoying a healthy meal.
Talks given by Trust staff included a memory clinic by Consultant Nurse Jo Birrell and one on a Healthy Heart/Cardia Rehab by Research Sister Nicola Bowers.
Reflecting on one of her sessions, CN Jo Birrell said: “The Memory Clinic talk highlighted that concerns about memory are not a one-off assessment – it is about gathering information over at least six months and then working out what is normal to forget.
“At the end of the talk people said they felt more confident about keeping a history of loved ones they were concerned about, but I also came away in complete awe of how many people are managing without formal support.”
Chairman of the WMCO, Brian Lewis, said: “We wanted to organise a six-week gathering for our senior citizens to test if there was a demand for it and were pleasantly surprised at the fantastic turnout.
“Each week we arranged for a discussion on common health issues affecting our senior citizens followed by a fitness programme and then finally a traditional Caribbean lunch.
“The feedback was very positive with 100% rating the health discussions as excellent, useful and insightful. We also want to continue the programme so I would like to encourage people to get in touch with us about how they can volunteer to help.”
You can find out more about the Wycombe Multicultural Organisation here.
Volunteers can email WMCO at: info@hilltophighwycombe.org
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