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18th August 2008 A unique event to encourage healthy eating and lifestyles for people with disabilities who its claimed are the “Cinderella” of the Government-led healthy eating drive, has taken place in Tyne and Wear. Launched by Lifeways, a market leading provider of supported living for people with complex needs and the only provider offering nationwide coverage, the first Healthy Lifestyles Day was held at the Jarrow Community Centre, Tyne and Wear. Guests included some 60 Lifeways’ Service Users, Families, Carers, Social Workers and other health care professionals. The theme of the day was Healthy Lifestyles and aimed to show how Lifeways is working to promote, support and encourage healthy living for everyone. The day included a range of interactive activities with the chance for people with disabilities to have a go at making fresh smoothies and other healthy foods; guests had a free Health Lunch, to give an experience to Service Users and staff on healthy options for meals Each service user received information on well man/well women clinics, leisure centre activities, and a health action plan booklet for each individual. Organiser Alan Smith, Regional Manager for Lifeways, said the Healthy Lifestyles Day was important as too many people with complex needs had been overlooked by the drive for better lifestyles - and they needed to catch up. Mr Smith said: “Too often many of the people we support have no choice but to eat bad diets and watch TV because that’s the easy option – they don’t have the knowledge of the healthier options which may be available to them with a little bit of support. “The people we support are the Cinderella of the healthy lifestyle programme- they have been overlooked in the general push by the Government towards encouraging everyone to move towards healthier eating. They really are the Cinderella sector and risk being left behind in the move towards a healthier lifestyle. “Other groups of people have been pushing ahead on the healthy lifestyle agenda and we think this is the time now to address the needs of the range of individuals we support.” The event included a talk by dieticians and physiotherapists who provided consultation to individuals on exercises appropriate for specific disabilities. Every attendee received a “goody bag” with gifts to promote health, together with a Service User friendly healthy eating cook book. Lifeways also gave Service User quality self assessments packs and requested feedback against the REACH 2 standards on how it can improve the Service it delivers. Chief Executive Paul Marriner said: “Every individual who uses our service deserves the best advice and support, whether it’s on exercise and healthy eating, or the latest developments in care and support, or finding our more about the range of ways of enhancing their lives. “We hope now to roll out his successful event across the country as part of our commitment to serving individual needs and offering a full range of lifestyle options to our service users.” |
