Celebrating Healthy Aging at the Age Well Festival
Organised in partnership with Haringey Council, Public Voice, Haringey Reach and Connect, and a host of creative and voluntary sector organisations, the festival delivered a fun array of activities that celebrated older communities while raising awareness about healthy aging.
A Day of Connection and Celebration
Starting from 12 PM, the festival featured creative and wellness activities, live music, dancing, and performances. It offered older adults an opportunity to challenge ageist stereotypes, embrace healthy lifestyle choices, and connect with services and programs that promote well-being. The Age Well Festival made a bold visual statement about the value and importance of older residents in the community.
Raising Awareness and Promoting Positive Change
In the lead-up to this inaugural festival, Haringey Reach and Connect raised awareness about the benefits of positive lifestyle changes for older adults. Their goal was to promote a wide range of services and activities that enhance health outcomes and well-being for older residents, especially those at risk of long-term health conditions.
A significant focus of the festival was on reducing health disparities in Haringey, particularly in the eastern parts of the borough where communities are more diverse and face higher rates of conditions like diabetes and hypertension. The 2023 Haringey Public Health Report highlighted these disparities, revealing that communities in the east had the highest diagnosed rates of diabetes (8.4%) and hypertension (12.6%), both well above the GP Federation averages.
Bridging the Health Gap
In collaboration with the Haringey GP Federation Health Inequalities Team, Reach and Connect took the message of healthy aging directly into these communities. By listening to residents and understanding the barriers they faced, the partnership sought to address the health gap and encourage engagement with wellness services.
The festival offered workshops, health screenings, and educational opportunities, giving residents access to essential information about services that could support their well-being.
