Why WEFTE?
Because Social Services are in crisis.
There’s no need to tell you that social services are already under impossible demands at the present time. Care for the elderly is a major expense for the NHS, Local Government and, if immobile, the elderly themselves. With a rising elderly population, these expenses are predicted to increase in the next 10 years.
What does that have to do with water exercises?
A lot. WEFTE maintains independence. When the elderly cannot look after themselves, when they become immobile, they have to sell their homes where they want to be, and to go into care, where they don’t.
There is a great deal of evidence that if elderly people maintain even modest exercise, they maintain mobility, and their independence, much longer than they otherwise would. Maybe, if only in a small way, an increase in WEFTE activity could give some relief to this vast problem at very little public expense. The elderly can pay to attend. Pool managers could even make profit if they advertised effectively and had physiotherapists recommendations. The resources, the pools, are there.
There is a great deal of evidence that if elderly people maintain even modest exercise, they maintain mobility, and their independence, much longer than they otherwise would. Maybe, if only in a small way, an increase in WEFTE activity could give some relief to this vast problem at very little public expense. The elderly can pay to attend. Pool managers could even make profit if they advertised effectively and had physiotherapists recommendations. The resources, the pools, are there.
So exercise to keep mobile.
Swimming and WEFTE are most suitable
WEFTE can be tailor-made to the individual’s needs.
WEFTE is non-impact exercise suitable for those with fragile bones.
WEFTE groups offer friendships and laughter for the lonely.
WEFTE is self-paced. You can stop whenever you need to.
When out jogging, or in the middle of a game or as a member of a team sport you cannot just stop. Water resistance can be gently demanding. Many elderly people dependent on their walking sticks find they are well supported by the water. The water gives them a freedom they don’t have the rest of the day. Find a local physiotherapist or hydro-therapist for expert advice. After a lifetime afraid of the water, learning to swim offers a great personal sense of achievement for non-swimmers. You can do it and others will help you.
Where do I go from here?
This website aims to provide all of the information you may need to practise WEFTE.
- You can find the pools nearest to you using the search tool.
- You can find descriptions of exercises and video demonstrations on the water based exercises page.
- You can find out recent WEFTE news on the news page.
The honest truth is that, together with classes of children during the day, the majority of pool managers have not provided much else. Some do mention provision for the disabled, but the elderly as a major source of business has hardly crossed their minds. There has not been a spirit of imagination and creativity. They will report there is no room in their timetable.
This is something we have to change, and I ask the elderly and others who read this to start a mini-revolution in their thinking. To ignore the needs of such a large and expanding part of the population is simply unacceptable. I look forward to the day when it is commonplace to see a mini-bus full of elderly people going to enjoy swimming and exercise.