Residents enjoy dance session for Move Into March initiative

Residents at St Edith’s Court care home in Leigh-on-Sea have been enjoying the dance sessions which are hosted by Zest, our wellness and exercise programme. 

The Zest programme is designed to ensure residents have an energised and engaging way to stay active, regardless of physical ability, and goes a long way to help residents achieve their recommended target of physical activity. 

The sessions are part of our new Move Into March initiative. Move into March aims to encourage residents, colleagues, and members of the community to enjoy the many benefits of getting active in their local area. 

During March, residents and colleagues are participating in inclusive activities to show that movement can benefit everyone, regardless of fitness level or ability, and can be lots of fun too. Movement can take many forms, depending on what makes people feel good – activities taking place across our locations include disco parties, group walks, gardening, and cycling. 

We are encouraging everyone to get involved with the initiative and have suggested ways people can Move Into March. These could be activities such as taking a lunchtime walk, cycling to work, wild swimming or committing to a gym routine. To join in, post your time spent moving and photos documenting your favourite ways to keep active throughout March on social media using #MoveIntoMarch.  

Joyce Blakesly, resident of St Edith’s Court care home, has been enjoying a variety of activities as part of Move into March. 

She said:

Being active makes me feel good mentally and physically. We do lots of fun activities here at St Edith’s. I especially enjoy Zest and never miss a session. I’m looking forward to seeing what activities people in our community get up to in March.

Throughout the month, we’re encouraging residents and colleagues to track the time they spend moving. This aligns with NHS guidance, which recommends adults aged 65 and over do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity if they are already active, or a combination of both. 

Zest, our wellness and exercise programme, is also available for care home residents to access online with a new live exercise session taking place every week. The programme is designed to ensure residents have an energised and engaging way to stay active, regardless of physical ability, and goes a long way to help residents achieve their recommended target of physical activity. 

Kerry Endicott, Manager of St Edith’s care home, said:

The care team at St Edith’s care home has organised a variety of inclusive activities and events for everyone to get involved with as part of Move Into March. It’s a wonderful opportunity for residents and colleagues alike to exercise their bodies and minds while participating in meaningful activities and have fun!

Move Into March is a great example of how our colleagues make a positive impact on our residents’ lives. If you want to make a difference to the lives of older people, we encourage you to check out our rewarding job opportunities. Anchor has a wealth of training and support in place to help colleagues develop, no matter what stage of their career.

To find out more about St Edith’s care home click here.