17 Jan #Harlow: Free Jazzercise class to be held in Shopping Centre for Essex Dementia Day
Harlow Council is set to Jazz things up a little for older residents this Friday (20 January) on Essex Dementia Day.
A special Jazzercise Dementia Day class has been organised to take place between 10am and 12noon in the Harvey Centre (Ground Floor next to the glass lift)
The class, which will be free to take part in, will be run by Harlow’s qualified Jazzercise Instructor Sheryl Wheatland who began offering classes to adults six years ago and last year extended that offer to elderly people in supported housing. Sheryl currently provides classes to residents at Fountain Farm, Halyday House, Manor Hatch Close, Sumners Farm and Woodwards.
Essex Dementia Day is a celebration of all those people who are doing something different to help those living with dementia, however large or small. It’s also an opportunity to champion the things that people are doing to try and prevent or stave off the onset of dementia.
Jazzercise is a combination of aerobic exercise and dance fitness that is available for all ages and fitness levels and is increasingly being used for seated exercise with older people.
According to the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation, regular physical exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by up to 50 percent. What’s more, exercise can also slow further deterioration in those who have already started to develop the illness.
Councillor Emma Toal, Portfolio Holder for Youth & Community, said. “The Council works in partnership with other organisations to do what it can to raise awareness of both dementia and what can be done to reduce the risk of people developing this illness. There are approximately 980 people in and around the town currently living with dementia and evidence suggests that’s set to rise by nearly 30% in the next ten years. For that reason we need to support and encourage any measures that reduce the likelihood of this illness.”
Councillor Ian Beckett, Harlow Council’s Mental Health Champion and Chair of Harlow’s Health and Wellbeing Board, will be taking part in the class.
Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis and spectators are more than welcome! A free buffet lunch will be held afterwards at the Playhouse for all participants.
This event is being supported by the Harvey Centre.
