Free Cobh health festival is aimed at older adults

A FREE community health festival for older adults will take place on April 16 at Cobh Community Hall.

From 10am to 3pm, the ‘Keep Well, Keep Movin’ festival will connect older people with community, voluntary, and primary care services that promote physical, social, cognitive, and mental wellbeing.

The festival will include guest speakers on nutrition, physical health, falls prevention, and sleep hygiene.

There will also be a drum-fit demonstration, a low-impact physical activity that improves circulation, brain function, and wellbeing, followed by mindfulness exercises.

A range of statutory, community, and primary health services will have professionals present to talk to the public.

“I had a great day and really benefited from the health information available,” said Eleanor McSweeney of last year’s ‘Keep Well, Keep Movin’ festival.

“I particularly liked the music and movement. All the presentations were relevant to people of any age. I hope that we see more events like this organised in the future,” Ms McSweeney added.

Speaking ahead of this year’s festival, HSE principal community worker with the Cork North Community Work Department, Sorcha Ni Chrualaoich, said: “The ‘Keep Well, Keep Movin’ Community Health Festival is a great way for older adults to learn about the primary healthcare, community, voluntary, and statutory services that are available to them and how such services can assist older adults to stay well, active, and connected.”

Regional executive officer of HSE South West, Dr Andy Phillips, said: “We know that physical exercise is very important for maintaining physical and mental health.

“People who regularly take moderate exercise, such as 30 minutes of walking a day, reduce their risk of developing many long-term conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.”

• Book a place by phoning 021-492-8389.