Elderfit: The popular classes helping people maintain their balance, strength and confidence

At the age of 92, Mary O’Connell is still a very mobile and independent woman. The Birchgrove resident is able to look after herself at home, get up and down the stairs with relative ease and socialise. 

She firmly believes she owes much of her good health and mental sharpness to her Elderfit class which she attends every Monday at Maes Y Coed Community Centre in Heath, Cardiff. The classes, which are growing in popularity, help the pensioner maintain her strength, balance and coordination. 

“I determinedly do the exercises, and I really feel they benefit me - I’m totally convinced by that,” she said. “Being in the class and doing it with everybody else is a big help, and I’ve met some lovely people.” 

Elderfit is a community interest company founded by friends Gareth Bartlett and Tom Scaife who have 30 years in the fitness industry between them. Their sessions draw on a variety of simple but effective exercise techniques using chairs and resistance bands. 

Much of what is taught in the class is designed for people to take home with them and use in their everyday lives, helping them boost their confidence and avoid nasty falls. 

“A couple of times when I’ve stumbled I’ve thought to myself ‘thank you, Gareth, I might have fallen over then’,” added Mary. 

Gareth Bartlett said Elderfit started in 2015 after he was invited to carry out an exercise session with residents in a Cardiff care home. “We realised there was a need for this out in the community, so we developed classes in places like Maes Y Coed Community Centre so people could come along, socialise, interact with like-minded people and do some exercise,” he explained. 

“We will never ask anybody to do anything they’re not comfortable with, but there needs to be an element of challenge so we get people standing up, and doing gentle lunging and squatting. It’s a very sociable and friendly environment, everyone feels welcome when they come along and it’s progressive – we’ve seen some great results.” 

Gareth said falls prevention work is vital in reducing pressure on the Welsh NHS. “All it takes is one little fall to have a massive knock-on effect not just on the person’s life, but those around them,” he added. “If someone falls and breaks their hip, that’s a long stay in hospital and it may result in someone having to visit them regularly to help care for them. What we’re trying to do is prevent that rather than wait for it to happen.” 

In addition to the physical benefits, Gareth said the social element is arguably just as important to the class members. “I think it’s really important for them to meet people who are living with similar conditions so they don’t feel like they’re alone.  

“We’ve also got book clubs and bike rides, and our Christmas party is coming up soon which was attended by 160 people last year. It’s nice to see so many smiles.”  

The Elderfit group sessions are “open access” which means anyone can turn up on the day to take part. There are a variety of venues across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan which hold the classes, and the full list can be accessed here. It costs £5 a session but participants can buy a block of 10 for £40. Anyone over 50 can attend classes, and the first “taster” session is free. 

“Come along and see if you like it,” Mary added. “If you can’t do an exercise nobody is going to criticise you.” 

Another Elderfit participant who has really benefited from the weekly sessions is Jacque Williams, from Rhiwbina. Despite having three hip replacements, the 84-year-old has good balance and strength and uses the skills she has learnt to keep herself safe at home. 

“I’m sure I’m fitter now than if I hadn’t come to the classes,” she said. “What’s more, there are quite a few women and men who are on their own, and this is probably the only time they get out and speak to people. The camaraderie is wonderful. 

“It also gets the brain going. You’ve got to remember what you’re doing as we’re split into different groups for different exercises. But Gareth watches everybody, and if he sees someone struggling he’ll say ‘sit this one out’.” 

Jackie Parry, 73, also from Rhiwbina, said the classes had helped with daily activities in the house like reaching items from kitchen cupboards. “I had spinal problems and I was told it would be good to carry out strength exercises, so that’s why I came initially. Now I can walk further and it seems to have calmed a few things down, like my arthritis,” she said. 

“The last thing any of us want to be is a burden on the NHS and end up in hospital, so if you can avoid that, and also add a bit to your fitness, then it’s excellent. 

“There aren’t many people who come to an Elderfit class in the first week and don’t come back.” 

In addition, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has teamed up with Elderfit to offer Falls Management Exercise (known as FaME for short), a closed programme that runs for 24 weeks and is specifically designed to reduce the risk of falls. For more information on that please go here.

Falls Prevention Week runs from September 18 to September 22. It's important to remember, falls are not an inevitable part of ageing. For more information on falls please go here.