Staying active in our later years isn't just about fitness – it's about independence, confidence, and the joy of continuing to live life on our own terms.
At Carinity Brownesholme retirement village, this truth is lived out every day, especially through the remarkable example of Ted and Babs, whose health journeys have been shaped, and strengthened, by their firm commitment to their wellbeing and staying mobile.
At 91 and 88, Ted and Babs embody what it means to age with vitality. Together, they've weathered numerous health challenges with remarkable resilience, but their determination to remain mobile has been central to their recovery.
Ted's story stretches back more than four decades, with his first hip replacement in 1985. On crutches for three-months, Ted's muscles had wasted away and he struggled returning to work.
"The doctor said I could go to a physio every day, or go to the gym," Ted recalls.
He chose the gym - showing up each day after work, slowly rebuilding strength, balance, and confidence.
"I've haven't stopped going to the gym since 1985," he said. "It's just part of who I am now."
That decision changed the course of his life, paying dividends in his shortened recovery when he underwent further hip replacements in 1995 and 2005.
Babs began going to the gym with Ted shortly after he started, and credits her strength and mobility for helping her bounce back from breast cancer and back surgery over the years.
"My back operation was a complete success, and I was back at the gym soon after," she said.
Today, they head to the gym twice a week where they work steadily through weight-based strength and mobility exercises and cardio work.
They also choose to 'park and walk', turning everyday errands into incidental opportunities to move. These small, consistent choices have added up to something powerful: the ability to continue living independently in their Brownesholme unit, surrounded by the routines and community they love.
Their active lifestyle extends well beyond workouts. It isn't about pushing limits; it's about staying engaged with the world around them. Ted still mows the lawn and tends the garden.
They manage their care and the upkeep of their home themselves, drive independently, move around without the need for mobility aids, and enjoy a full social life including coffee catch ups, and weekly gatherings with the British Ex-Servicemen's Association.
"Keeping busy keeps us happy," Ted said simply.
Alongside personal routines like Ted and Babs', Carinity Brownesholme retirement village also offers opportunities for residents and locals to stay active together.
Every Tuesday at 9.30am the Energise exercise class brings people into the community centre for a lively session led by Jan Harland.
The class has become a cornerstone of wellbeing at Brownesholme. Jan believes deeply in the power of regular movement, not just for physical health but for emotional and social wellbeing too.
Her sessions blend strength work, balance training, and gentle mobility exercises designed specifically for seniors. But just as importantly, they offer a sense of connection and belonging.
"People come because it makes them feel good but they stay because they feel part of something. The routine, the friendships, the laughter – that's what keeps them moving," Jan said.
Jan believes that the consistency of the class is what motivates people most: knowing that familiar faces will be there, week after week, creates a rhythm that's easy to maintain and hard to give up.
The benefits of staying active in our senior years are well known: improved balance, stronger muscles, better heart health, sharper cognition, and reduced risk of falls.
But stories like Ted and Babs remind us that the real reward is the life those benefits make possible. Mobility means independence. Strength means confidence. Activity means connection.
At Carinity Brownesholme, movement isn't just exercise – it's a way of living well, together.
