13 Feb 2019
Sport England publishes dementia-friendly sport and physical activity guide
BY Tom Walker
Sport England has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Society to produce a dementia-friendly sport and physical activity guide.
The guide, funded by National Lottery money, aims to help the sports sector bring down barriers that prevent people who live with dementia from taking part in sport and physical activity.
There are more than 850,000 people living with the condition in the UK – many of whom say they experience barriers to taking part in activity.
These include having difficulties in navigating around sports facilities and remembering how to use equipment at gyms and leisure centres. Others say they worry about people’s reactions – for example, staff not understanding their difficulties and a lack of confidence in finding the right activities.
The practical guide aims to tackle these issues by informing and educating individuals and organisations so they have a better knowledge of dementia and how it affects people.
It also provides tools and guidance so that the sector can help more people affected by dementia enjoy the benefits of staying active in a caring and understanding environment.
“We want to transform the way the sport and physical activity sector thinks, acts and talks about dementia – with every leisure centre, community hall and sports club equipped with the resources to meet the needs of those living with the condition,” said Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth.
“Whether it’s a leisure facility management team, reception desk staff, an exercise professional leading a class, community coaches, or volunteers, we need them to make the small changes needed to support people affected by dementia to get active and keep active.
“Defeating dementia won’t happen overnight, but until that day, we must all pull together to create a dementia-friendly society and that is why I’m proud to support this guide and commend the sport and physical activity sector for uniting against dementia.”
To download the guide, click here.
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