The world’s ‘largest’ seniors’ exercise class?
A community care provider on Sydney’s northern beaches will attempt to hold what has been described as the world’s ‘largest’ outdoor exercise class for people aged over 70 years, to help celebrate National Open Day for Aged Care next month.
The free class, hosted by Community Care Northern Beaches (CCNB), will be held at Village Park (corner of Park St and Pittwater Road), Mona Vale on Friday, 20 June at 10:30am.
There will also be a podiatrist on hand to offer free feet checks and morning tea will be provided afterwards.
According to Guinness World Records, the only existing, similar world record for people aged over 70 years is the oldest dance troupe, New Zealand’s The Hip Op-eration Crew, consisting of 23 active members aged 67 to 95 years old, with an average age of 79 years and 197 days as of 10 May 2014.
Director of Strategy for CCNB, Eliza Pross, said: “I encourage all people over 70 years in the area to come along to the class and see if we can set a world record, or at least beat the New Zealanders!”
Organised by CCNB, the event is part of International Open Day for Aged Care, which began last year in the UK and South Africa, and started in Australia this year.
The day, organised by industry body, Aged and Community Services (ACSA), is intended as a celebration of ageing, and service providers throughout Australia are encouraged to open their doors to highlight the many options available for older people.
The outdoor exercise class highlighted some of the preventative community health programs available to older people, all aimed at maximising their health and wellbeing.
“The importance of exercise as a preventative health measure for the ageing population cannot be understated. Exercise decreases the risks of dementia and other chronic disease and helps people stay as fit and healthy as possible as they get older,” Ms Pross said.
According to last year’s Medicare Local Sydney North Shore and Beaches (SNSBML) Population Health Needs Assessment Report, Sydney’s north shore and beaches has 44,190 people aged over 70 years (2011) and this is expected to increase by nearly half again (46%) to 64,789 people by 2025.
The outdoor exercise class will be run by professional trainers from Vision Personal Training in Mona Vale. It is being supported by Pittwater Council’s Enliven Pittwater program.
