There’s a line in a recent national report that really stuck with us:
Staying active is just as important as medication when it comes to our health as we age.
It’s a powerful statement, and one that’s now being talked about more widely, following recent coverage in The Independent, which reported on a parliamentary inquiry into healthy ageing. HILS are so proud to have been involved in the supporting 
evidence used to help form this.
But more than that, it’s something we see play out every single day.
At HILS, this isn’t just research or theory. It’s people rebuilding confidence after a fall. It’s someone feeling steady enough to make a cup of tea again. It’s the difference between managing at home – or not.
What this looks like in real life
Through our Active Ageing and Move More Eat Well services, we support people to take small, manageable steps to improve their strength, balance and overall wellbeing.
Not intense workouts. Not unrealistic goals.
Just simple, practical changes that help people feel:
- more confident on their feet
- safer in their own homes
- more in control of their day-to-day lives
And those small changes really do add up.
The impact goes beyond the moment
We don’t just see short-term improvements, the benefits last.
Independent evaluation has shown that people who take part in Active Ageing are less likely to need additional social care support afterwards. And months later, many are still staying active and managing everyday tasks more easily.
That’s what makes this work so important.
Because it’s not just about helping someone today, it’s about helping them stay well for longer.
One approach, shared across all our communities
Right now, Active Ageing and Move More Eat Well are delivered in Hertfordshire.
But the thinking behind them – focusing on prevention, confidence and independence – is something we carry across everything we do, in Hertfordshire, Hampshire and West Sussex.
Wherever we work, the aim is the same: Helping people stay independent, for as long as possible, in the place they call home.
Why this matters
As more people live longer, the question isn’t just how we support people… it’s when.
Supporting people earlier, before things reach crisis point, can:
- reduce the risk of falls
- help people stay independent for longer
- ease pressure on health and care services
But more importantly than any of that – it helps people keep living their lives, their way.
Find out more
👉The one thing that’s just as important as medication for your health later in life | The Independent
👉 Healthy Ageing: physical activity in an ageing society
