Going for Gold!

20 June 2019

Older people in Perth and Kinross took part in a care home challenge event to highlight the importance of physical activity and we saw all of the good sports dressed up and raring to go, we just knew we had to do a #SmallCityGallery!

120 residents from 40 care homes and day centres across the region tried their hand at various games and challenges at the eighth annual Go4Gold event in Bells Sports Centre in Perth. The event, which is one of the biggest of its kind in Scotland, was designed around this year’s theme of walking more often to increase the activity levels of frail older people receiving care. This also ties in with an exciting partnership with Paths for All which is working with local care homes over the next two years to offer person-centred physical activity programmes based around walking and strength and balance exercises.

The participants took part in various physical challenges including indoor curling, golf throwing target, fishing for ducks, hoopla, and a golf putting challenge, all whilst dressed up in fancy dress and wearing a big smile!

Each team was supported by carers, staff, and volunteers from the Rotary, Soroptimists, Tesco, Scottish and Southern Electricity, Perth College UHI, Perth High School, and other organisations.

Some of the other activities on the day included a warm-up session led by Perth College UHI, a games challenge, and a tea dance and sing song with the Perth High School ceilidh band providing the music and singers.

Participants trained for and practiced the activities within their care setting in the weeks before the event. Staff and residents from each care home also created posters for a competition reflecting the theme of ‘Memories of Walking and Walking Activities’.

Each participant received a Go4Gold medal and certificate and trophies were presented for the overall winner, most enthusiastic team, best team name, best team identity and best poster.