Ageing Well

ActivLives has a wide range of activities available to improve your health and wellbeing, including Better Balance, Yoga, Badminton. Table Tennis & other sports as well as their ActivWalks, ActivGardens, ActivFriends groups and much more. To view the full list of activities and search ActivLives sessions near you, click on the image to be taken to the events page on their website.

A family carer is anybody, of any age, who looks after someone with a long term illness, mental health difficulty or disability who could not cope day to day without this help. If you are, or think you might be, a family carer and are looking for information and advice on what support and services are available, Suffolk Family Carers can help. They can be contacted on 01473 865477, by email: hello@suffolkfamilycarers.org or via Live Chat on their website.

Chrisites Care are a Suffolk family business providing care that allows you to continue to live independently at home.  They can offer live-in care across Suffolk, short term care or hourly home visits depending on your individual care needs. For more information on their care services contact 01728 605107 or visit their website

Free Dementia Friendly Cinema Club for those living with Dementia and their carers, where you can see classic television and film. The first Friday of the month from 2pm – 3pm at Cotman House, Garfield Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7PU. To book a place contact Chantal by phone: 0808 2235321 or email. 

The Ipswich & East Suffolk Alliance have created a practical guide to help you age well to help you live healthily, happily and independent for longer. Click on the image to view the guide or for more information on their services visit their website.

Getting to grips with digital technology can be daunting and confusing. Age UK have creating s wide range of step by step guides to help you get started. Learn how to send & receive emails,  using apps,  video calling, online shopping and so much more. The guides are all designed to help you feel more confident about using technology and making sure you stay safe online. All the guides are available to download on the Age Uk website

Independent Age – are a national charity that help, support and advise older people, as well as offering befriending services. You can call their free Helpline on 0800 319 6789 for advice on a range of issues from care and support, to money, benefits, health and mobility. They have a range of free guides and factsheets you can download or have sent out to you (click the image below for the full list), many of which we bring to our Rural Coffee Caravan village visits. They have a great online ‘Scam-wise’, quiz on their website, posing examples of fake and genuine messages you might receive to see if you can spot the scam.

Rest Less (previously Silver Surfers) is a free members website for over 50s, with information and guidance on a range of subjects, plus events and clubs, travel recommendations, job and volunteering opportunities, health, food, education and learning a new language, puzzles and games, and ideas for ways to keep active and socially connected. Browse the site, or take a look at the page that suggests ’29 Things You Can Do on Rest Less’.

Age UK along with England Football and Sport England are launching ‘Walking Football’ groups. It’s a good way of learning a new skill and connecting with others. To find out how you can get involved, click the link or the image below.

Taking place on the first Wednesday of the month Home Instead are running a Free ‘Dementia Friendly Golf Group located at Seckford Golf Club   Seckford Hall Road, Great Bealings, Woodbridge, IP13 6NT. To book a place contact Wendy Chard on 01473 272301 and for more details on the golf contact Tony Pennock on 07788 727788

Musical Lifelines are free musical workshops for people later in life who are living with Dementia, Parkinson and loneliness. The workshops take place at Bungay Community Centre on Fridays during term time from 10.30am – 12pm.  The sessions are open to Carers and refreshments are available. For more information contact Caroline on 01986 511 or email her.

The Dogs Trust are running a free service supporting owners in the event that you may become seriously ill, pass away or have to move to a care home. The Dogs Turst will ensure your dog is well looked after and rehomed if the circumstances are required.  For more information on the Canine Card Service visit The Dogs Trust website, alternatively contact Emily by phone: 01953 497912 or email.

Bike Active North Suffolk is based in Halesworth. They have specially adapted bikes that make cycling possible for adults of all abilities.  If you, or a person you care for, would like to experience the enjoyment of riding a bike but have not be able to before due to a disability or illness, BANS can help. They offer one to one supervision with their volunteers.  The cycle route will take you along the Halesworth Millennium Green cycle path. For more information click on the leaflet image or follow the link to their website.

Music In Our Bones aims to overcome isolation across Suffolk by bringing people together through joyful song. They have created 9 health and well-being singing communities in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft, as well as two on-line communities, reaching out to people who are managing life with Parkinsons’, Stroke, MS, dementia, anxiety, depression, bereavement and recovery from enduring mental health issues. Follow the link to see the full list of accessible singing groups. To book your place contact Tracy Sharp on 07757 809 297 or by email.

Feel Good Suffolk in partnership with Ramblers UK are offering free organised Wellbeing walks across Suffolk. A regular walk can help you manage health conditions, build stamina, improve your sleep, boost your energy and mood and lower anxiety & stress. The Wellbeing walks are led by volunteers and offer a safe space for people to get together, walk, meet new people, explore new walking trails and become more active.

‘Well Minds’ is a booklet packed with lots of information and advice that aims to help you, your family, friends and your community to manage good mental health and to ensure that everyone has access to supportive information and available resources they may need. The booklet was created by East Suffolk Council and adapted to its latest version in partnership with VASP and Suffolk County Council. It can be downloaded from Healthy Suffolk where an accessible version is also available.

CONNECTPlus Women’s Health App provides advice and guidance to women on topics including cervical cancer, breast pain & screening, contraception, Menstrual & Menopause assessment & treatment and more.  The app is free and is now available to download and use from the App Store and Google Play.

A Free Digital Just Can’t Wait Toilet Card is now available from the The Bladder and Bowel Community and can be downloaded on to your smartphone.  The card will allow you access to use toilets that are not normally available to the public and is is widely accepted restaurants, cafe’s, shops, entertainment centres and many businesses.  If you don’t have a smartphone you can order a plastic card by post for £2.95.  Follow the links to find out how to get a digital card or plastic card.

Blood Pressure Testing Machines are now available to borrow, free of charge, from your local Suffolk library.  Full instructions and advice are supplied to help guide you through the process of taking your own blood pressure.

Anglia Care Trust Supported Discharge Services (SDS) provide short term help for Suffolk residents who have no other form of support at home following a hospital discharge, including shopping, preparing meals and support getting to appointments. Click on the image below to view the PDF booklet for details on the service and eligibility.

The Menopause & Me is a free community course from Suffolk Mind offering five online, interactive sessions, providing information, support and advice to anyone in Suffolk with lived experience of the perimenopause or menopause. Suffolk Mind also aims to engage local organisations to increase understanding and awareness of the menopause. Menopausal women are the fastest-growing workplace demographic. They offer a Mental Health Toolkit for Menopause in the Workplace course, providing support for employers, and exploring how the affects and associated symptoms can be supported and managed within the workplace.