this spring habit a wellbeing Kick-start

Most of us have some idea of steps we can take for better health and wellbeing. Health advice can be a little different for later life, but Age Scotland guides can help with free advice on topics including eating well and physical activity.

Knowledge is a great place to start but the trick is to find ways of making healthy changes that stick. Psychologists have learned that reliance on willpower isn’t a helpful approach, but we can use our tendency to form habits to maximise our chances of success. Our habits are the things we do without thinking each time a familiar setting or situation gives us a cue, like brushing your teeth. However, our habits aren’t fixed, and it’s possible to establish new healthy habits and to break unhealthy ones. Here’s some top tips from Doug Anthoney, health and wellbeing manager at Age Scotland.

Tweak your surroundings

If healthier eating is your aim, hide the biscuit tin and put out a fruit bowl. For better sleep, remove the TV from your bedroom so you can’t watch it late in bed. Look around your home and consider changes you could make to support your health goals.

Start small

For instance, if you want a daily yoga habit, aim to simply roll out the mat each morning. Repeat this for a few weeks and the habit should stick. Laying out the mat will be powerful cue for you to do yoga, but you won’t feel a failure on days when you don’t.

Find a tribe

You’re more likely to succeed with supportive people around you. If you have understanding family members or friends, tell them your health goal and ask for their support. The Age Scotland helpline can also help you find local activities and clubs that align with your goal.

Help us pilot new resources to support healthy habit changes

This summer our health and wellbeing team will pilot booklets to help older people understand how their habits are influencing their health and wellbeing, and to set and pursue realistic goals for healthier routines.

We would love to hear from individuals and older people’s groups who are interested in giving these resources a try. Participants will be sent booklets and will receive a call or email a few weeks later asking about their experience of using them.

Find out more!

To find out more call the Health and wellbeing team on 0333 323 2400 or email healthandwellbeing@agescotland.org.uk

For copies of our Keeping Active in Later Life guide call our helpline on 0800 12 44 222 or email publications@agescotland.org.uk

Age Scotland launches

Older People’s LGBTQ+ network

In November, we launched the Older People’s LGBTQ+ network, a new platform to amplify the voices and uphold the rights of LGBTQ+ people over 50 across Scotland.

The network, officially launched at an event in Edinburgh attended by Christina McKelvie, minister for equalities and older people, is a diverse space for older LGBTQ+ people to share experiences, highlight the needs of their community, address inequalities and bring about change.

The network has begun work with the Scottish Government to ensure legislation affecting older people is inclusive of older LGBTQ+ people, contributed to a new Age Scotland dementia training programme and forged a partnership with the Open University to give a public health talk about ageing and the LGBTQ+ community.

Susanne Flynn, diversity and inclusion officer at Age Scotland, said:

“The network is an important platform for LGBTQ+ older people to raise inequality issues and for their voices to be heard so that they can be pioneers to bring about the change which meets their needs and upholds their rights.

“Our regular group meetings have been a place where members have shared their lived experiences as people of the LGBTQ+ community. For example, we have hosted a joint even for LGBT History month with LGBT Health and Wellbeing. We’ve also consulted on the NCS (National Care Service strategy) and Hate Crime strategy for the Scottish Government. This gives an opportunity for older people’s voices to be heard in shaping services for them.

“It is a place where they don’t have to put up barriers or worry about discrimination and can just be themselves. Our members come from a diverse range of backgrounds, have different life experiences and are from all over Scotland. The variety of experiences within the group show that LGBTQ+ people are not a homogenous grouping.

“It is important for organisations at different levels to consider that ageing looks different if you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community due to different barriers faced throughout life.

“We’re working continually to ensure our membership base is diverse so that we can fully represent those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Christina McKelvie, minister for equalities and older people, said “I welcome the launch of Age Scotland’s Older People LGBTQ+ network. It is important to ensure people of all ages within the LGBTQ+ community have a voice. This new network offers a platform for older LGBTQ+ people to share their wealth of experience and to help improve equality across age groups.

“The Scottish Government has already engaged with the network on key legislation which affects older LGBTQ+ people in Scotland, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with them in the future.”

Find out more!

Email our diversity and inclusion officer, Susanne Flynn, at susanne.flynn@agescotland.org