LLI-490 Social inclusion of elderly people in Latvia-Lithuania cross border region by improving accessibility to physical and social activities (Active Seniors)

Project Duration: 01.09.2020 - 31.08.2022

Project ERDF Financing: 212 559.69

Project call: 3rd call

The project is targeted at seniors of Latvia-Lithuania border region – in Neringa and Liepaja – two cities by the sea shore. Project aims to improve quality of senior’s physical and emotional health by providing free of charge services which will improve their everyday life. By maintaining adequate levels of physical activity is known to reduce the risk of health problems in older adults. Creating opportunities for older people to engage in physical activity will increase their quality of everyday life and improve their physical and mental condition.
The project intends to improve senior daily life by physical and emotional activity, also by training social workers to understand the importance of movement on daily basis for elderly. Project will include theoretical trainings, networking, experience exchange, as well as basic physical classes, breathing classes, canistherapy for elderly to embrace their emotional health.
During the project also individual physical check-up will be made for seniors to evaluate their physical condition and to find the most appropriate solution for physical activity. Also specialized vehicle will be bought as main transportation for disabled seniors in Neringa to provide crucial social services for disabled seniors in the area and outdoor physical activity area will be built in Liepaja near social living house for elderly. Main idea is to create socially active space for elderly which promotes physical activity. In total 100 elderly will be involved in the project, 50 in Liepaja and 50 in Neringa.
Learning together about needs of elderly people and possible solutions how to increase their quality of life, developing and providing similar services, strengthened cooperation of organisations in Programme territory.

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Social media and contacts:
Phone: +370 469 52093
E-mail: rasa.baltrusaitiene@neringosspc.lt
Website: https://neringosspc.lt/
Address: Taikos str. 11-2, LT-93121, Neringa

11 November 2021

Project partners meet in Liepaja and Neringa

Project Steering group and Work group of Interreg V-A Latvia-Lithuania program for 2014-2020 project LLI-490 “Social inclusion of seniors in the Latvian-Lithuanian cross-border region, improving access to social and physical services (Active Seniors)” met in the partner cities on August 19th in Neringa and August 25th in Liepaja.
The progress of the project LLI-490 “Active seniors” were presented at the face-to-face meetings and results of each Partner’s success of the first Project year presented and future steps of project were also discussed.
Project partners also discussed problems and other current issues related to the implementation of the Project due to Covid-19 situation taking into account the cross-border cooperation aspect. This was the first face-to-face meeting since the project started in September 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions and cross-border aspect.
During the meeting in Neringa, Liepāja project partners had the opportunity to get acquainted with Neringa social services center premises, social service center offered services and see in real life project results, as well as during the visit, representatives of Liepaja municipality met with representatives of Neringa municipality to discuss further cooperation opportunities in health promotion and social work.
On August 25th, Lithuanian partners were welcomed in Liepaja, opening a visit with a project meeting in Liepāja City Council premises, followed by a visit and meeting with Liepāja City Council Head of the Social Service department. By closing the meeting, partners visited Liepāja City Council Social Service department Social living house for elderly, where there was an opportunity to get acquainted with the project results achieved in person – installed indoor chair-elevator and a recently created outdoor physical activity field for seniors. Partners met with Social house for elderly director to discuss work organization with seniors in Liepaja and discuss the project activities that are being implemented on the venue.

Public event for raising awareness about elderly and importance of physical activity in senior age in Liepaja

On September 17th a public project event “Active seniors’ day” happened in Liepaja near Social living house for elderly – inhabitants of the social house and all public were welcomed. Main focus in this public event was on healthy lifestyle in elder age to ensure quality life while aging. During the event, physical activity trainer gave lesson about appropriate physical activity for seniors with active involvement, after that physiotherapist gave lecture about ergonomical principles in daily life to make senior movement safer according to age, nutrition specialist gave lecture and masterclass about healthy and appropriate food to seniors. During the event, creative seniors’ craftworks were exposed on the venue.

Classes of basic physical activities started in Neringa

In order to ensure physical activity for inhabitants in Neringa, physical activity basic class was started to be organized, including cardio, strength and balance exercises. Classes are being provided by certified sports or physical activity trainer. During these classes seniors gets useful gains skills of regular physical activities, trains their habits. Seniors learns how to correctly perform various exercises. They can also perform these exercises at home lately.

Public event in Neringa

On May 28, 2021, a public project event “Healthy Body – Healthy I” took place. The aim of the event was to motivate seniors to stay active by involving students of Neringa Gymnasium in general activities. The event was hosted by lecturer Irina Arup, who is a multiple winner of finesse and aerobics, a promoter of an active lifestyle.
Physical activity among seniors was encouraged during the event. The idea that seniors are full members of society who can also live an active and exciting life, and that the younger generation can collaborate productively and engage in physically active activities together, has also been promoted.

Inhabitants of Social living house for elderly participates in Breathing classes and Canistherapy classes

Since May, inhabitants of Social living house for elderly participates in outdoor Breathing classes and outdoor Canistherapy classes to improve their physical and emotional condition to raise quality of their daily life.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, classes have been organized outdoors to maintain epidemiological safety since the Project target group is also one of the Covid-19 risk groups.
Breathing classes focuses on different breathing techniques together with mild and slow movement to ensure emotional and physical wellbeing of elderly. Classes is led by physiotherapist.
Canistherapy classes are organized in small groups (two people in one class) so the exercises with therapy dogs is more effective. In each class participants together with Canistherapy assistant and therapy dog completes exact class main tasks and reaches the class goal. These classes improve and raises emotional level for seniors, they are joyful, opens up personalities and helps socialize.

Outdoor physical activity area next to Liepaja Social living house for elderly has been created

Outdoor physical activity area is located next to Liepaja City Council Social service Social living house for elderly at Ganību Street 135/141.
All residents of Liepaja are invited to visit the area for their daily physical activity route to get acquainted with what kind of machines are available there.
In total 24 different kind of machines has been installed in the outdoor physical activity area, which are specially designed and intended for use by the elderly, but, of course, the equipment can be used at any age.
The equipment is designed for various joints training (palms, elbows, shoulders, pelvis etc), balance and coordination training. Several devices are designed to improve concentration as well and a memory training game device installed that works on a similar principle as memory card game. There is also a walking/skiing simulator machine for aerobic training.
Some of installed machines is for strength training, adapted to the abilities of seniors, also “Swedish wall”, hips rotary simulator and chairs with pedals so seniors can chat while exercising.
There are also four wooden chairs in the area with armrests and bicycle stands.

Social living house for elderly in Liepaja equipped with chair-elevator for disabled inhabitants for more accessible showers

Showers in Social living house for elderly in Liepaja is located on ground (basement) floor, which can be reached only by stairs or going through outdoor entrance which can be unpleasant during cold and windy seasons.
To make showers more accessible for people with disabilities and movement disorders, chair-elevator has been purchased for more comfortable access to showers.
Chairs-elevator is very easy to use, it is light and make life more comfortable not only for its users, but also for social workers who cares about people with disabilities on daily basis.

Social living house for elderly in Liepaja equipped with small equipment for physical activities

In the very beginning of the Project, small inventory for physical activities for elderly has been purchased to make physical activity classes more interesting for inhabitants of the Social living house.
Different inventory will allow to make classes more diverse and interesting by showing how physical activity can be variated by adding colorful inventory to activity class.
During the Project such inventory has been purchased – fitness balls in different sizes, dumbbells in different weight, elastic fitness bands with different resistance level, fitness matts, massage balls and accupress matts for recovery exercises, treadmill for long walks indoors and wireless speaker for musical background in the classes.

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Partners structure

Neringos socialinių paslaugų centras
- Liepājas pilsētas pašvaldības administrācija

Bringing neighbours closer

Bringing neighbours closer

Bringing neighbours closer