High energy conference for over-60s hailed a success

High energy conference for over-60s hailed a success

A Hull-based housing association says its groundbreaking health and well-being conference – featuring everything from Pilates and Zumba workshops through to cookery and photography demonstrations – was a huge success.

Pickering and Ferens Homes, the region’s foremost housing provider for the over-60s, hosted The Residents’ Show for the first time in October and it’s believed to be the first of its kind in the city.

The one day event – which took place at the Mercure Royal Station Hotel, in Ferensway, Hull city centre – coincided with World Mental Health Day and many of the activities focused on helping older residents to boost their mental well-being by remaining active and engaged in their communities.

Claire Warren, Chief Executive of Pickering and Ferens Homes, said: “We were delighted to welcome our residents to the first ever Residents’ Show.

“As a major housing provider for older people, we see our duty of care to residents not only in maintaining their homes to a very high standard but in improving all aspects of their day-to-day lives.

“We have always believed in actively involving residents in the work that we do. The Residents’ Show took this one stage further. The day was specifically designed around the needs and interests of older people.

“We believe it offered something for everyone, whether a resident needed some support in caring for a loved one suffering from dementia or they just wanted to pick up a few new cookery tips.”

The day begun with a Speed Socialising activity, giving residents from Pickering and Ferens Homes’ 1,200 properties across Hull and the East Riding chance to get to know each other better. Other highlights included a fitness and pilates session, in which residents were shown how they could turn their homes into a gym using everyday household objects such to build strength.

There was also a chance to learn new skills, with an introduction to Zumba, a live cookery demonstration with local chef Glenn Young from Princes Avenue-based Garbutts and a ‘Life through the Lens’ photography workshop with Mercury Design and Marketing’s photographer, Les Stubbs.

Meanwhile, sustainable living experts, Environmental Management Solutions (EMS) were on hand to offer residents tips on recycling, growing their own vegetables, and saving energy in their homes.

TimeBank Hull and East Riding and Hull City Council’s Older People’s Mental Health Team demonstrated how residents can stay active for longer by swapping skills with other members of the community using TimeBanking. In addition, a workshop with Hull’s Dementia Academy gave residents an insight into dealing with dementia.

Throughout the day, staff and trustees from Pickering and Ferens Homes were on hand to talk to residents and encourage more people to get actively involved in the association’s work.