Care Home steps up to get people on their feet

A new care home in Edinburgh has donated £200 to an exercise programme supporting vulnerable adults in the community at risk of having a fall. David Holbrook, customer relations manager at Lauder Lodge on Wakefield Avenue, presented Steady Steps, part of Edinburgh Leisure, with the donation as part of its commitment to keeping older people staying active in later life.

Steady Steps is Edinburgh Leisure’s falls prevention project supporting adults who have had or are at risk of having a fall. The 16-week programme involves weekly classes which focus on strength, flexibility and balance exercises, followed by the chance for participants to get together and enjoy a cup of tea.

The £5.5 million care home will welcome its first residents in December. David Holbrook explained why Lauder Lodge was supporting Steady Steps: “As we prepare to open Lauder Lodge, we wanted to invest in a project that supports the work that we do here at Care UK.

“We advocate ‘activity based care’ and encourage residents to stay active throughout their life, but we know all too well how common falls are amongst older people. Falls prevention is very important to the team, and to the wellbeing of the residents, so we’re keen to support initiatives that help to prevent falls and promote a healthy, active lifestyle at any age.”

Amy Fastier, health development officer for Falls Prevention at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We are very grateful to Care UK for their generous donation to our Steady Steps programme. As a charity, Edinburgh Leisure, relies on fundraising to help get more people active to protect their health and wellbeing.

“Our Steady Steps programme makes a real difference to the lives of our participants.  We see people grow in balance confidence and increase their independence which also reduces risk of social isolation.”

The new three-storey care home, which will feature 60 en-suite bedrooms, has been designed to enable its residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home will incorporate space for hobby and leisure activities and will include its own cinema, hairdressing salon and café.

For more information on Lauder Lodge, please email customer relations manager David Holbrook on david.holbrook@careuk.com.

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/lauder-lodge