9 August 2006

Launch of `healthy lifestyles' project

The health problems, associated side effects and high level of care needed for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) often lead to stress, poor quality of life and social exclusion.

`Healthy Lifestyles’, a major new project being launched this month by PAMIS at the University of Dundee, aims to enhance the well-being of those people and their parents/carers by giving them the opportunity to try a range of health promoting activities and access leisure facilities.

"The health care needs of people with profound and multiple disabilities are extensive and ultimately dependent on those who care for them," said Loretto Lambe, director of PAMIS, the organisation in Scotland working with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, their family carers and professionals who support them.

"It can be extremely difficult for people with profound and multiple learning difficulties to access many leisure facilities. But an active lifestyle is a healthy one. Through the Healthy Lifestyles project we will be encouraging people to learn more about health and showing them how they can develop an active lifestyle."

"People with PMLD are living longer and, like everybody else, are subject to many age-related health conditions. Apart from maintaining an appropriate weight and lack of exercise, mental and emotional well-being should be taken into account. Research has shown that sunshine, diet and mobility lead to healthy bones, so the Healthy Lifestyles project will incorporate these lessons into workshops and events."

"We, and the many families who will be involved, are very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund and the statutory agencies who have made development of this key initiative possible."

To launch the project a number of events will be held in the coming weeks across Scotland. These include wheelchair ice-skating and roller-skating, yoga, music and movement, and a `Sensory Walk’.

The project meets needs identified within the recommendations of the NHS Scotland Health Needs Assessment of People with Learning Disabilities (2004).

Healthy Lifestyles is a three-year project which has been made possible thanks to a `Big Lottery Fund’ award and grants from other agencies.

The project will be implemented through a two-pronged approach: firstly, for families to learn about health and healthy lifestyles and, secondly, to develop and encourage an active lifestyle that leads to a good health quality of life. Questionnaires will be used to evaluate and monitor the participants’ views of the activities and also health.

As well as the health benefits derived from leisure pursuits, the project is also concerned with many health issues which face people with PMLD. It will look to extend carers’ knowledge of health care; physical management, respiration and epilepsy; nutrition, dysphagia, oral health care and the management of continence; and mental and emotional well-being of the individual and stress management for family carers.

Events will be held in five areas across Scotland: Fife, Glasgow, Grampian, South Lanarkshire and Tayside.

Among the events already planned are Wheelchair Ice-skating (throughout August and September at Dundee Ice Arena, next session August 21st). Sporting Opportunities for Motor Activities (SOMA) will be held once a month at the DISC, Dundee.

Wheelchair roller-skating will take place on August 28 and 30 at Victoria Park, Glasgow.

The Sensory Walk takes place on August 27th at Chatelhault Country Park, near Hamilton.

Fun Days for families to enjoy games, bike rides, fresh air, picnics and have a social time have been aranged for:

* Tayside (Baxter Park, Dundee): August 20th

* Grampian (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire at Westburn Park, Aberdeen): September 9th and 10th

Once leisure events have been introduced to improve the well-being of the people with PMLD and their parents/carers, it is hoped that the activities will continue.

For further information or if you would like to know about workshops in your area, please contact Frances Morgan, PAMIS, University of Dundee, tel: 01382 385154 or e.mail: f.morgan@dundee.ac.uk or website: www.dundee.ac.uk/pamis

NOTES TO EDITORS

PAMIS is the organisation in Scotland working with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, their family carers and professionals who support them. PAMIS is a voluntary organisation, a registered charity and a Unit within the University of Dundee.

For media enquiries contact:

Roddy Isles
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk