WellComm Active, a new health and wellbeing initiative which is being piloted across Cork, announced an exciting schedule of Autumn activities designed to assist communities stay active and well.
The important new community health and wellbeing initiative is coordinated by Cork Sports Partnership (CSP), supported by the HSE/Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH), and funded by the Department of Health under the Sláintecare Integration Fund and aims to help people with exercise, weight management and healthy eating regimes in their own homes and community.
Organisers announced an autumn schedule of activities which include five core community programmes available across the city and county.
Project WeightLoss classes are a 12-week weight management programme developed by health and fitness professionals to encourage inactive and overweight people to try out a supervised and structured exercise regime.
Staying Fit for the Future promotes healthy ageing, with a physical activity programme to improve strength and balance in older adults, so they stay steady on their feet. HSE physiotherapists have been involved in developing the programme, which takes place in local community facilities over 8 weekly sessions.
Good nutrition is the focus of Healthy Food Made Easy classes, a 6-week nutrition education programme for adults developed by HSE community dietitians to promote healthy eating and build simple cookery skills.
By improving nutrition knowledge and eating habits, the course is intended to help with diet related chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer.
Neuro Functional Training is a specialist training zone for patients with neurological conditions, available in their own local area.
Individual tailor-made supports are also part of WellComm Active. Made2Move is a one-to-one mentoring programme that can be done in any location, including people’s homes. Physically inactive people are supported by ‘move mentors’ in becoming more active and developing exercise as a long-term habit.
The Made2Move programme was designed by the PE & Sports Science Department in University College Cork (UCC), which hosted this week’s launch of the WellComm Active schedule.
UCC is also a research partner on the community healthcare project, which aims to deliver evidence-based programmes, proven to be both popular and effective.
By collecting and assessing data on participation and outcomes, WellComm Active will improve services in the community and help tackle significant health concerns.
Care and support in the community can help people manage chronic illness themselves, avoid injury and disease, and, importantly, limit the need for hospital admissions, Priscilla Lynch, Head of Health & Wellbeing at CKCH, explains.
“With an ageing population and long hospital waiting lists, we need to extend our health services by bringing care into communities. Preventative health interventions are hugely important, and there is so much people can do to enhance their own wellbeing.
“WellComm Active is a welcome support for people in their own community to improve their quality of life and give them tools to manage their health and wellness”.
According to Michael Fitzgerald, Chief Officer, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, “This winter, a key priority for the HSE will be to assist people to stay well at home. This exciting programme of activities in Cork will allow us to work with partners in the community to empower people to maximise their own health and wellbeing”
Classes and one-to-one programmes have been developed which are suited to the general adult population. Older adults, inactive individuals and at-risk and vulnerable groups are most encouraged to participate, with referrals via GPS, hospitals and community health professionals.
Community classes support both physical and mental wellbeing, Kristine Meenaghan, Coordinator of Cork Sports Partnership, notes.
“WellComm Active is ideal for people with specific needs who wouldn’t ordinarily access fitness services, and who are unable or unlikely to join gyms or sporting clubs. We help older and chronically ill adults to include exercise and healthy eating in their lives, while also enjoying the interaction with their peers and health professionals in their own community”.
To apply for a WellComm Active programme anyone can download an application form from www.corksports.ie or from www.thewellbeingnetwork.ie through the active living link.
The programme extends into the New Year and runs across all 11 community healthcare networks in Cork. It is funded by the Department of Health under the Sláintecare Integration Fund.
Health professionals can contact Eoin Kaar at WellComm Active for more information:
wellcommactive@corksports.ie or by telephone (021) 434-7096 or 086 1409 225.
