Are we doing enough to support older people in Sheffield? Those in the know have their say

Here’s what those in the know have to say.

Shiregreen and Brightside councillor and chair of the Sheffield Pensioners Action Group Peter Price, aged 81

There can be little doubt that as a result of Government cuts to Sheffield, services to our elderly and disabled, have been drastically stretched.

This has forced our city to prioritise resources towards social care and our most vulnerable. However there is also a growing need for society to address the needs of an ever increasing number of active elderly members within our communities.

Just as there is a growing concern about the inactivity and obesity among our young with the increasing health implications, we have a similer problem just as urgent facing our elderly with the additional issue of loneliness, probably the most disabilitating condition of all.

There are many challenges facing our over 60s and 70s - the lifestyle changes when retirement comes or even worse losing a partner and being alone.

Being stuck within four walls in front of the TV is when rapid deterioration can set in and this needs addressing. Our elderly need help and encouragement to live life to the full, and to remain as active as their physical and mental condition allow.

The council grant aid 52 lunch clubs with over 1500 attendees many of which offer other activities. They also help fund groups organising walking and swimming groups and dance groups etc all geared to keep our elderly and infirm active and our city owes a debt to the thousands of volunteers involved.

However, perhaps society needs to have a more radical preventative approach.

60-year-olds today are not the 60-year-olds of 25 years ago, there are more of us for a start and while many need care and assistance and perhaps gentle excercise others are alert and willing and wish to keep active and competitive and not treated like invalids.

These attitudes used to exist towards people with physical and learning disabilities – not any more.

We now proudly organise the Paralympics and Invictus Games and Special Olympics and encourage much more participation, so why balk at doing something similar for the 25 per cent of our population long forgotten by sport.

With a little change in direction we could massively increase participation rates with elderly people who have time, usually more disposable income and a desire to remain healthy, fit and achieve something they can boast about to their grandkids.

Reaching a certain age does not mean the desire is lost to be part of the sporting scene, the comaraderie, the smell of rubbing oils, that great feeling after the hot shower, following a tough work out. We may be slower, our joints don’t bend quite as much and we get out of breath more easily, never the less, the desire and passion may still remain for sport we just need that catalyst, that spark to stimulate us into action.

How about an ‘Over 60’s Games’ - bowling, golf, indoor sports (badminton etc,) swimming, walking football, even an athletic meeting or a triathlon, most of us can swim, cycle and jog.

Just check any 10K, half marathon and even full marathons and see how many 60+’s enter. So sports workers give us wrinklies' a chance.

Sue Smith, aged 65, manager of the Hackenthorpe Community Centre, which hosts regular lunch clubs for the elderly

I’ve been running Hackenthorpe Community Centre, as a volunteer, for the last 20 years and have seen many changes in and around the area and come into contact with many older people.

To the question ’Are we doing enough to support older people in Sheffield? If not, what more can be done?’

My answer to that is no, we’re not doing enough to help many older people.

That said there are many older people in our community who are fit, healthy and have the means to lead an active and rewarding life.

I’ve just turned 65 so I suppose I fit into the ‘older’ category but I don’t class myself as someone who needs support and I’m sure many of you reading this are the same. However, there are many older people who are lonely, sick, or disabled and who find it hard to live happy and meaningful lives.

Take the lunch club for example. We have 60 older people who regularly attend over two days on Wednesday and Thursdays. The statistics read: 1 person 60-69; 22 people 70-79; 25 people 80-89 and 12 people over 90 – these numbers represent 14 men and 46 women who all live in or around Hackenthorpe.