The UK’s largest charity care provider, MHA, has launched MHA Active, an app offering tailored lifestyle and wellbeing content for older people, with the aim of keeping minds and bodies active.
Through MHA Active, individuals can access a growing library of more than 600 videos, articles, games, and quizzes. Activities such as yoga, tai-chi, and arts and crafts are available, with the app also offering a dementia friendly section.
MHA works with multiple specialists, including florists, artists, and exercise instructors, to ensure that content is beneficial, entertaining and interactive.
All video content is produced in-house by MHA and bespoke activities, requested by the app’s users, will be accommodated where possible. For example, a virtual outdoor walking video was filmed because a resident in one of MHA’s care homes wanted to experience being outside in nature after undergoing hip surgery.
Emily McEnery, scheme manager at MHA Communities Southampton, said: “Our scheme members love the virtual walks as some of them are no longer able to experience a walk in the countryside. These videos are also beneficial for care home residents who are unable to go out as much as they once did.”
Jonathan Mace, director of communities at MHA, said: “We want our app to become the go-to for people over 65 who are looking to stay healthy and active. It’s easy to use and our content is very much user-led, which is what makes it unique.
We already have over 1,000 people registered – the majority of whom are from our community schemes and joined the app when they were unable to attend group activity sessions during the pandemic. We’re excited to now make it available to the wider public, growing our digital community as we add more features and content.”
