Golden Games

Golden Games is an activity programme combining traditional games with physical activity.

Golden Games is an activity programme combining traditional games with physical activity. Every move enables better strength, stamina, skill and suppleness through simple and fun group or individual activities.


Golden Games mission

  1. The first is to increase physical activity which will:
  • Help people feel and function better and regain confidence;
  • Prevent or delay the onset of dementia, disability and frailty.

2. The second is to increase healthy life expectancy and increase independence.

3. The third is to reduce the need for health and social care.


Benefits of Golden Games

Physical Health

Golden Games activities are designed to improve a range of skills such as: stamina, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, fitness, which all contribute towards slowing normal age-related declines.

Mental Health

Golden Games improves people's positivity, engagement and connection, all of which are fundamental to good mental wellbeing. The nostalgic, fun and varied activities increase a person's motivation to move more.

Social Wellbeing

A fundamental benefit of group activity is providing participants with an opportunity to try something new in a safe and supportive environment. This social connection builds new friendships, contributing to one's 'sense of purpose', which is strongly associated with maintaining physical function.

Inclusive

The Golden Games activities have been co-designed with numerous settings working with older adults and older adults themselves. They therefore provide all participants with achievable, fun and inclusive activities. The equipment is designed to adapt and fit into your regular programmes and settings, to make it as easy as possible for groups to get moving a little more.

Independence

Activities of Daily Living (ADL), are all the essential, basic self-care tasks that people need to do every day to keep themselves safe, healthy, clean and feeling good: from getting up in the morning, showering, grooming, preparing and cooking meals, shopping and travelling to maintaining the house, garden and taking care of pets. These skills can decline more rapidly in older adults living with long-term health conditions or as dementia progresses.

Golden Games activities are designed with these activities in mind, to improve one's resilience which in turns improves people's independence and quality of life.

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Who is Golden Games for?

Typically, Golden Games is for older adults, defined as those aged 65+.

It can be accessed by any setting in which older adults come together. This may include care settings, residential homes, sheltered accommodations, charities and local community and voluntary groups.


How much physical activity should older adults be doing?

To stay healthy and improve health, older adults aged 65 years and over should aim to be active for 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week. Moderate intensity means your heart rate increases, but you can still hold a conversation. Aim for strength and balance exercise on 2 days a week.

You can view our physical activity guidelines for other age demographics and people with disabilities here.

Please ensure you follow any professional medical guidance given to you by a GP before undertaking physical activity.


A Golden Games bag includes:

3 guides / information packs:

  • Your Guide to Golden Games - More information about Golden Games, top tips, useful links and Golden Games pledge (please see below to download this resource for free).
  • Golden Games Activity Pack - Information and instructions for playing each game, including top tips, challenges, and what skills are improved.
  • Home Exercise Booklet - A guide of strength, stretch, balance and fundamental movement exercises for Golden Games or at home

16 games and resources:

  • Active Monopoly - Invest in activity and build a portfolio of strength and balance!
  • Activity Bingo - A game of bingo with an active twist.
  • Dance for Days playlists - A blast from the past ... boogie and jive to a compilation of golden hits.
  • Activity Tracker - An individual resource to keep you on track.
  • Versus Arthritis Let's Move with Leon DVD and Keep Moving booklet - 12 weeks of 30 minute movement sessions.
  • Falls Proof stickers - Support with making moving more a habit.
  • Giant Tic Tac Toe - An active variation of the classic pen and paper game.
  • Core Sliders - A simple way to level up any seated or standing activity!
  • Ring Toss set - Throw, catch, aim and score.
  • Pétanque - A favourite traditional game focusing on balance, strength and coordination.
  • Inflatable ball & pump - This one always brings out the competitive edge!
  • Bean bag throw - How accurate is your throw?
  • Resistance bands - Different strength bands to improve strength and flexibility.
  • Stress balls - Designed to reflect daily activities like getting dressed and standing up from a chair.
  • Invitation cards - Invite individuals to take part in a Golden Games session - this personal touch goes a long way to motivate someone to move a little more.
  • Golden Games bookmarks - Share this bookmark with Golden Games participants and help encourage individuals to get active in ways right for them.

Some free resources from Golden Games to get you started:

  • Your Guide to Golden Games Your Guide to Golden Games (PDF, 3.9 Mb)

    Your Guide to Golden Games includes more information about Golden Games and links for further support. It can be downloaded for free.

  • Golden Games Activity Tracker Golden Games Activity Tracker (PDF, 108 Kb)

    You can download our Activity Tracker here. Record your daily activity, how you felt and your goals / rewards for that week.

Dance For Days Playlists

Golden Carers have produced some free music playlists, including hits from the 40s, 50s and 60s.

Dance, move and shake in whatever way you enjoy to these favourite tunes.

Why not try and create an exercise routine to certain songs and remembering the routine for next time?

This is an especially effective activity for those living with dementia. It gives participants the chance to experience creative movement, focus on stimulation of the brain through movement, repetition, props and musical timelines and keep the mind alert whilst also unlocking support for general well-being.

Mary's 'Duster Day'

Golden Games includes a set of core sliders, great for balance. flexibility and strength. If you do not have a set of core sliders to hand, you can follow along to Mary's 'Duster Day' video which uses dusters instead! Getting active is sometimes about getting creative with your surroundings, and Mary's video is a perfect example of this.


Golden Games Pledge

What is the pledge?

The Golden Games pledge is an opportunity to 'pledge' your commitment to the wellbeing of your residents and participants by:

  • Regularly delivering Golden Games sessions
  • Identifying a dedicated person to coordinate the delivery of Golden Games
  • Updating us every couple of months on how you are getting on

By signing the pledge and completing the above, you will become an accredited Golden Games provider.

Accreditation can be achieved after 6 months of first receiving a Golden Games bag.

It is an opportunity for you to take ownership of delivering regular fun and inclusive physical activity to your participants and residents, and to share your activity journey with us.

Who is it for?

All organisations that sign up to Golden Games are strongly encouraged to commit to the Golden Games pledge.

What are the benefits?

Achieving Golden Games accreditation means your group / organisation will receive:

  • Recognition on the Active Together website;
  • Golden Games Let's Get Moving certificate;
  • Golden Games pledge badge to display and include on your own website / literature

Golden Games accreditation is valid for 12 months, at which point it can be renewed if the 3 requirements are still being met.


How to get involved:

You can sign up to Golden Games using the form below, or by directly contacting Jess Hazell: j.hazell@active-together.org / 01509467486

Upon sign up, you will receive an automatic email with exclusive access to extra Golden Games resources. Plus, follow up information for your local Golden Games contacts.

Please note that 1 Golden Games bag costs £80. We will also be in touch regarding details to send an invoice relative to the number of bags requested.

Golden Games Sign Up Form

Golden Games Sign Up Form
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Before completing this form please ensure you have read all of the Golden Games information documents. 

1 Golden Games Bag = £80

Golden Games Pledge
The Golden Games pledge is an opportunity to 'pledge' your commitment to the wellbeing of your residents and participants by:
- Regularly delivering Golden Games sessions.
-Identifying a dedicated person to coordinate the delivery of Golden Games.
-Updating us every couple of months on how you are getting on. 

By signing the pledge and completing the above, you will become an accredited Golden Games provider. 
To find out more about the pledge and it's benefits visit- 

All organisations that sign up to Golden Games are strongly encouraged to commit to the Golden Games pledge.

Active Together take your privacy seriously and we, along with Local Authority Physical Activity & Health Teams will only use your personal information to administer the Golden Games. We will collect and process data in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018. For more information please view our Privacy Policy at www.active-together.org/privacypolicy
We'd love to keep in touch with you about local physical activity, sport and wellbeing information and opportunities through our email newsletters. If you are interested in receiving these from us and being registered on our website www.active-together.org please opt in below. You can opt-out at any time by using the unsubscribe option at the bottom of the newsletter.

You're performing the exercises, sport and activity suggested and linked from this guide and the Golden Games Guide Activity Pack at your own risk. Whilst taking part in physical activity and sport, participants should ensure they take part at a level which is appropriate to them and their health, and are responsible for ensuring they check the credentials and health and safety requirements for each activity. It is recommended that participants follow the Chief Medical Officers' Guidelines for physical activity. Participants will choose to utilise these links and take part in activities at their own risk. If you're unsure about your ability, it might be wise to start gradually and build up. Please feel free to refer to our Physical Activity Guidelines when determining the level of activity appropriate to you. Make sure you warm up and cool down to prevent injury, and make sure you keep hydrated. Stop the exercises immediately if you feel faint or unwell, and if you still feel dizzy or unwell have a rest. Next time try something less strenuous, building up your activity gradually.


For any questions regarding Golden Games, please contact:

Jess Hazell

Jess Hazell

Assistant Development Officer

Active Together

I am working flexibly in the office or at home, therefore please contact me via email or phone number provided.

My areas of responsibility are:

- Golden Games
- LLR Girl Can
- Targeted Physical Activity Programme Support

When I'm not working - I'm at Loughborough University athletics track, training for the 400m. I've been an athlete for 13 years, and love exploring different parts of the world whilst competing.

Favourite Sporting Moment – Derek Redmond at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. After tearing his hamstring in the 400m semi-final, Derek's father ran from the stands to help him and they both finished the race together. It always makes me cry!

Telephone
01509 467486