Healthy conversations – staying strong and steady as we age

As part of our Healthy Conversations campaign, this week we’re spotlighting the importance of maintaining strength and balance as we age, and how staying connected in our local community helps us stay steady on our feet, physically and socially.

This week also marks Falls Awareness Week (15 to 19 September) which highlights that many falls are preventable, especially through early action and awareness. 

Drop by for a friendly chat about local support, activities, and tips for staying active and well at the Ageing Well’s information event at the Brighthelm Community Centre on North Road on Wednesday 17 September between 11am and 2pm.

Coinciding with this, the Ageing Well Festival 2025 kicks off on 26 September and runs through to 10 October.

The theme this year is “Celebrate Ageing. Challenge Ageism.” The festival includes a wide range of events for people aged 50 and over, from gentle exercise and strength and balance classes to social meet-ups, mindfulness, arts, and opportunities to try something new.

Get involved

• Try out strength & balance exercises - many local classes are free or low cost. If unsure, start with short sessions at home (chair or counter-supported) and build up.
• Attend an event during the Ageing Well Festival - meet people, try an activity, or simply enjoy being part of something.
• Invite someone to join you in an activity - companionship can help make starting easier.

Why strength and balance matter

As we grow older, our muscles naturally lose strength, and our balance can become less reliable. 

These changes can increase the risk of falls, which can have serious impacts on health, mobility, and confidence. 

But the good news is that strength and balance can be improved at any age, with the right kinds of activity and support.

To reduce your risk of falling, you could:

• make changes to your home
• have your medication checked regularly by your GP or a pharmacist
• have regular eye tests
• do strength and balance exercises

For help with strength and balance exercises, you can watch this video that suggests 6 exercises to keep your muscles strong and keep you moving by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

The Ageing Well Service can give you information and advice to improve your health and well-being. They can also suggest local services to improve your strength and balance.

Visit the Aging Well website for an online directory of local strength and balance exercise groups.

Community and connection

Staying active is one thing. But having a network, being part of community groups, sharing experiences with others - these all contribute to our wellbeing. 

Social connections help reduce isolation, increase motivation to stay active, support mental health, provide shared learning, and often just make exercising more fun.

Brighton & Hove offers support through programmes, services, and community partnerships:

• Ageing Well Partnership – Connecting people aged 50+ to activities, advice, volunteering, and social groups.
• Age & Dementia Friendly Brighton & Hove – Training and resources to make businesses and organisations more inclusive and accessible.
• Ageing Well Directories - resources to let you know about support, services, groups and activities available to the 50+ community in Brighton & Hove.
• The Hangleton & Knoll Project - The HK50+ programme offers free and low-cost in-person and online groups and activities available.

Join in the conversation

Join in the Healthy Conversation campaign by having open, supportive conversations about health topics with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues and sharing Healthy Conversations campaign posts on social media.

Stay tuned for more tips, stories, and opportunities to get involved via our social media and local community spaces.