Health and wellbeing

Healthy eating

Whether you're trying to lose weight, get in shape or just live a healthier life, eating well has lots of benefits. From improving your health to saving you money, there are lots of reasons to eat well. You can still enjoy the foods you love, by making some small changes and food swaps to help you cut back. The NHS Better Health website has plenty of useful advice on healthy eating.

Exercise, strength and balance

If possible, it is important to do some type of physical activity every day. It can help to improve your health and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. There are simple strength and balance exercises that can be done at home to help improve your mobility.

• The NHS website has tailored guidelines for different age groups and abilities, and a number of exercises for you to try. 
• Your Circle includes details of activities in your local area.

Falls prevention 

There are ways you can reduce your risk of having a fall, including making simple changes to your home and doing exercises to improve your strength and balance. Tips for preventing falls in the home include:

• using non-slip mats in the bathroom
• mopping up spills to prevent wet, slippery floors
• ensuring all rooms, passages and staircases are well lit
• removing clutter
• getting help lifting or moving items that are heavy or difficult to lift. 

The NHS website provides further useful information. Your GP will also be able to talk about the various options and may carry out some simple tests to check your balance.  

Gloucestershire’s Falls Assessment and Education Service aims to reduce the number of people falling or at risk of falling, through effective falls prevention information, education, assessment and intervention. Their website includes local exercise classes and how you can reduce the risk of falls. You can also visit Your Circle to see details of ‘Fall proof - Strength and balance classes throughout Gloucestershire’.

Gloucestershire’s Care and Support Guide details information about falls, minor adaptations, and staying independent for longer. Age UK provide information about adapting your home. 

Feeling lonely

Most people feel lonely sometimes, for many different reasons. If loneliness is affecting your life, the NHS website details a number of things you can try that may help.

Managing your mental health

It is completely normal to feel low, anxious, or depressed at some point in our lives. Whilst we all manage our mental wellbeing differently, it is important to reach out for support when you feel you need it.

Self-help techniques can be effective in managing the symptoms of many mental health problems and can mean that no other treatment is needed. Making changes to your general lifestyle may also help to prevent some problems from developing or getting worse.

The section on support for adults with mental health conditions provides a range of advice and guidance.