Wimbledon fortnight inspires many people to pick up a racket, and not-for-profit older people’s care provider, Borough Care, is giving its residents the chance to do just that.
As part of its regular sports and exercise programme, Borough Care has set up Kung Fu Squash sessions. Kung Fu Squash is a dementia friendly sport where participants hit a weighted balloon with a racket, with the aim of not letting it touch the ground.
A Borough Care staff member stands in the middle of a circle of chairs, at which the people taking part in the game sit. They are each given rackets of varying sizes with which to hit the weighted balloon and keep it in the air.
Edward Coverley, activities and lifestyle facilitator at Borough Care, says: “Since we recently introduced Kung Fu Squash to our activity programme, it has proved particularly popular with our residents who used to enjoy tennis, badminton or other racket sports in their younger days.
"The game really brings out people’s competitive nature, as the balloon is literally thrashed around the group. Nobody wants to be responsible for not hitting it.”
Borough Care is looking to further increase the competitive element, by linking up with other care organisations to put on Kung Fu Squash matches.
Kung Fu Squash is one of a number of different sport and exercise activities organised by Borough Care. The company is also signed up to programmes provided by Life Leisure, including SMILE – Simple Movements Improve Life Every Day – a new low impact and gentle exercise concept.
Sophie Gardiner, area support at Borough Care, comments: “Participating in sport and exercise has many physical and mental health benefits for older people, including helping them become stronger, reducing stress, socialising and boosting self-esteem. At Borough Care, we are keen to enable our residents to experience all the wellbeing benefits of staying active by organising lot of different activities for them.”
