What does health and wellbeing mean?
Defined by the World Health Organisation; health “is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." However, wellbeing goes beyond a focus on physical health and the presence or absence of impairment, disease or illness. Wellbeing is a way of encapsulating several facets that signify together, how a person is. Wellbeing is about how a person is in life when considering their wider engagement with spiritual, mental, physical and whānau health, the mind, body, environment, and other living beings. It is the relationship and balance between the many factors which impact a person’s happiness, fulfilment, growth, positive relationships and self-appreciation.
What is health promotion?
Health promotion is about enabling people to have control over their health and wellbeing. Health promotion targets the factors that influence poor nutrition, causes of stress, the uptake of risky behaviour or why a person may have a lack of good health or wellbeing. Health promotion is about achieving equity, social justice, affordable, warm and secure housing, education, food; a liveable income, a healthy environment and sustainable resources.
What does Age Concern do to promote health and wellbeing?
Age Concerns deliver a wide range of health promoting programmes, events, and workshops to meet the needs and interests of older people, koroua and kuia. These programmes aim to support older people to remain independent and to make changes that will benefit their health and wellbeing. We want to see all older people live dignified, flourishing and purposeful lives, to be well and to be connected.
Some of our health promotion activities include falls prevention education, strength and balance classes, driver education, living without a car workshops, physical activity groups, and nutrition courses and workshops for older people. Some Age Concerns offer wellbeing expos, activities to develop digital skills, housing workshops, sleep seminars and mindfulness/mental wellbeing sessions. Collectively, we enable older people to participate and stay healthy and connected in their community.
Enter your postcode below to contact your nearest Age Concern and find out what health promotion activities are available in your area.