Press Release

Free Swimming Initiative A 'Positive Commitment To Improving Health Of Older People'

6 June 2008
 
Older people face rising costs of living across the board
 
Help the Aged has responded to Government plans for free admission to public swimming pools in England for the over-60s, to be set out today by Gordon Brown in a bid to encourage more people to take up sport ahead of the London Olympics.
Pamela Holmes, Head of Healthy Ageing at Help the Aged, said:

"At last we are seeing a positive commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of older people. Help the Aged has long called for more emphasis on physical activity for older people.

"The importance of staying active in later life cannot be over-estimated, but for many older people on tight budgets, activities such as swimming are a luxury.

"Free swimming for the over 60s will help those older people who like to swim, and local authorities will welcome the financial support for this programme. But for those people who don't enjoy swimming, or for those with problems such as poor strength, uncertain balance and weak bones, swimming classes offer nothing at all.

"This is a step in the right direction, but we need to stride towards providing a range of options for activity.

"Older people face rising costs of living across the board - the Government must ensure that many of the necessary staples of life are equally affordable."