We want to help make Devon a place where growing older means living longer in good health, staying well and where every generation has a good life.
Keep on enjoying life!
Staying independent, keeping well and enjoying what you like doing are important as we get older. It’s never too late to start – you can take steps to improve your health, wellbeing and connections at any age.
- Staying connected is important for both mental and physical health. There are many community-based opportunities across Devon where you can join in, make new friends, take up a hobby or learn a new skill. Many organisations run activities and events, as well as offer volunteering opportunities.
- Keeping well means looking after your overall health. This includes eating a balanced and varied diet, staying hydrated, attending health checks and vaccinations, and looking after any existing conditions. Looking after your mental wellbeing is just as important.
- Keeping active helps maintain strength, balance and mobility, reducing the risk of falls and long-term conditions. Aim to move every day in a way that suits you, whether that’s walking, gardening, swimming or taking part in a local activity class. Even light activity can have real benefits. Keeping our body active and bones healthy over our lifetime can help keep us doing the things we enjoy doing. Find more advice and opportunities to help you keep active.
The Steady on your feet campaign helps to increase confidence and reduce the risk of falls. If you feel a bit unsteady you can do a quick assessment and create an action plan to help you stay active, independent and safe during every day activities.
Classes that aim to improve your strength and balance, and help to lower the risk of falling, take place all over Devon. Find a class near you.
Advice and resources
Devon Connect is a free community platform for anyone wanting to share or find information about community activities in their local area.
Age UK
Age UK supports people across Devon, helping people enjoy life and make every day fulfilling. Age UK Devon – covers mainly rural areas including Torridge, West Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, East Devon and North Devon. Age UK Exeter – covers Exeter and surrounding areas.
Support for carers
If you look after or support someone who could not do with your help then there is support available for you.
Age-friendly communities
As a Council, we want to promote age-friendly communities to support older adults to stay active, take part in social activities and continue to make a difference.
By making our spaces and services accessible and welcoming, and by challenging stereotypes about age, we can help ensure that everyone can feel included and valued as they grow older.
We are working towards joining the network of Age-friendly Communities run by the Centre for Ageing Better. You can find out more about what it means to be an age-friendly community in this video