Over 65 and feeling fine

And while the proportion of people aged over 75 and 85 is a lot smaller, at 7.1 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively, these percentages are rising at an even higher rate.

As people get older, physical activity is one of the most important things they can do to stay healthy in mind and body, according to the experts.

Some of the older generation in Worcestershire and Herefordshire would appear to have grasped this notion with a vengeance, engaging in everything from weight training to abseiling, yoga to line dancing.

Lesley Rowberry, manager of Nicola's Gym in Henwick Road, Worcester, said around one third of the members at the ladies-only venue were over 60.

"We have ladies in their 80s attending the gym who want to keep fit and healthy and active.

"Some participate in classes, others prefer the toning tables which are particularly good for people with Parkinson's, MS or arthritis as there's no stress and strain on the joints," she said.

The social side is also important, with older members enjoying a coffee and chat together in the relaxation area afterwards.

One on One Fitness in the city's St John's area also enjoys the patronage of a lot of men and women in their 60s and 70s.

"With the ageing process, you get atrophy, which is muscle wastage, and posture starts to get worse," said manager Phil Sutton.

"Bone density also decreases and the metabolic rate slows."

He said all of this could be combated with weight training.

"The use of weight training can help maintain bone density and it can make joints stronger and improve their mobility. It makes muscles stronger and more flexible and helps to improve posture."

Mr Sutton said his older clients also liked to use the cardiovascular equipment to try and maintain stamina, improve circulation and make their heart stronger.

One 71-year-old client who asked not to be named - "not all my friends know I do this" - said she felt the effects immediately when she started training three years ago.

"I feel much better for it," she said. "I still get tired but I don't need to take medicine for my blood pressure any more, as long as I'm doing the exercises."

The keen reader and crossword fan said she did a one hour 10 minute session two to three times a week using the treadmill, the bike, the rowing machine and weights.

She said she always slept better after a session and that she felt more mentally alert and had better muscle tone since she started exercising.

"You just feel better about yourself.

"I feel more confident."

CONFIDENCE is very important, especially to older people who perhaps feel that certain activities are beyond their capabilities.

Derek Coxall, who teaches "mature" people canoeing, kayaking, sailing and sail boarding, thinks confidence is the most significant benefit experienced by those undertaking the watersports at Worcestershire Outdoor Education Centre at Upton Warren, near Bromsgrove.

"A lot of people our age look at these things and they've never done them, but then they have a crack at them and they get a lot of satisfaction," said Mr Coxall, who is 68 and quite often finds himself teaching people in their 70s on the Worcester College of Technology Adult Education Course.

"When they have a successful day it gives them confidence to try other things. Quite often they're inspired to start a new hobby. It's gives them a new interest and shows them they have the ability to do things."

One person who would wholeheartedly agree is 85-year-old George Morey from Yates Court in Evesham.

Mr Morey has attended three outdoor pursuit holidays, organised by the ExtraCare Charitable Trust which runs Yates Court, taking part in canoeing, abseiling, horse riding, and riding the zip wire.

"I took part in all the activities and it was great fun watching fellow ExtraCare residents from other homes taking part," he said.

Manager of Yates Court, Vicky Byrd, said ExtraCare's philosophy was to keep the elderly as active as they want to be for as long as they want to be.

"The main point about the outdoor pursuit holidays is that age need not be a barrier to having an active life," she said.

"We've even had people in wheelchairs doing abseiling."

OF course, exercise does not have to be that strenuous and there are plenty of places to go for something a little less arduous.

David Randle, who runs the Age Concern Ageing Well project, said exercise did not need to be "all grunting and groaning".

"We train our activity leaders to provide exercise in very many different forms," he said.

"It could be walking, swimming or cycling - the key is for people to do whatever they feel comfortable doing. We've one group who do 10 minutes of exercise and then sit down and chat for a while before doing another 10 minutes."

Mr Randle said the Ageing Well project was all about helping older people to lead an active later life.

"Each activity leader identifies a local need and organises his or her exercise sessions around that. It could be in sheltered housing, in a private nursing home or some volunteers are setting up fitness classes for the general public."

A less strenuous, although still challenging, form of exercise with great benefits for older people is yoga.

Patricia Davidge, who is "in her 60s" has been doing yoga for three years with the Association for the Retired and Persons Over 50.

"Yoga's more than just external, with a lot of the movements designed to improve internal organs like the heart and lungs," she said.

"We do a lot of breathing exercises and movements to improve posture. It also keeps your joints flexible and tightens the muscles in the bowel and bladder area."

"You're encouraged to go at your own pace and our teacher is very good at designing the lessons to cater to people's particular weak spots."

Of course, if rhythm is your thing, exercise can also take the form of dancing.

Gillian Westcott, 63, has been doing line dancing at the St Swithun's Institute in The Trinity for four years.

"Our class is practically entirely retired ladies," she said. "Some of the girls are quite old - they're marvellous, quite lively - but they take it more gently."

Mrs Westcott said line dancing toned her muscles and gave her increased mental clarity.

"It's great fun. The music's really good - we have Latin American, waltzes and poppy stuff - it's not all Country and Western."

Keeping up with hi-tech

THE fear of being left behind in the age of technology can be the turning point in encouraging older people's interest in becoming computer literate. One pensioner who has taken advantage of the growing number of computer courses is Gillian Westcott. At the end of July, the 63-year-old, who lives at Bevere, near Worcester, enrolled on a course with LearnDirect, a learning centre in the city's St Nicholas Street. The internet training course is free and enables her to learn at times that are convenient to her. "I'm finding it very interesting but a bit technical," said Mrs Westcott. "I enrolled because I thought I was being left behind in this day and age." She said that she was now considering buying herself a computer so she could use it at home. "I've got a son and daughter in Trinidad and now I can e-mail them, it's a lot cheaper than a phone call. "The course has also taught me to be more confident, even though it's like learning a foreign language." Fred Stone, who is 70, started a word-processing course at the turn of the millennium. Now, the record collector, of Littleworth, near Norton, is thinking of learning about the internet. "I decided to buy a computer and I needed to know how to use it," he said. "I started with word-processing and I've been writing letters with it, but I want to be able to use the internet. Worcester College of Technology's Adult Education Unit has noticed the increase in popularity of people interested in becoming switched on to computers. In the past eight years the number of courses has risen from a handful to more than 30. "We get many people over the age of 60 who are interested in updating their computer skills," said Natalie Bowghtflower, acting head of the unit. "They don't want to be left behind. It can be advantageous in keeping contact with friends and family across the world." Anyone interested in finding out more can call the Adult Education Unit on 01905 762002.

New sites for the benefit of 'silver surfers' KEEPING in touch with family overseas and finding a local gym are just two of the things that can be done on the internet. Two leading charities are today launching websites especially for "silver surfers" who are fast becoming the new internet generation. Age Concern and Help The Aged have recognised the increasing numbers of people in their retirement years becoming technologically aware and have developed sites that will help people live in their Third Age. Both www.achw.org.uk and HelpTheAged.org.uk have been developed to cater for the needs of the older population and provide them, their relatives and carers, with information on all aspects relating the older person. "This is part of a new project to get older people online," said Helen Garnett of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire branch of Age Concern. "It's encouraging when you get members being so keen to learn." The new Age Concern site features sections on gardening and DIY help, day trips and holidays and other information and advice. "It's unlike any other site as it is totally local, everything is focussed with the two counties." Worcester MP Mike Foster officially launched the Age Concern site at the centre in The Trinity this morning. There are currently more than one million regular internet users over the age of 55 in the United Kingdom. As well as private users hundreds of day centres are also connecting up to provide thousands of low-income pensioners with ready access to internet sites.