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Elderly patients are taking advantage of wellbeing sessions to help keep their body and mind more active, which is hoped will lead to shorter stays in hospital.

The weekly sessions of music, exercises and chat for elderly patients to help boost their physical and mental health, giving patients the opportunity to get out of their bed and spend an hour singing songs and talk about their past experiences.

As well as being fun, sessions such as these can promote more efficient recovery, resulting in shorter hospital stays and helps patients stay as independent as possible when they leave hospital.

Claire Turner, Learning Disability, Autism and Dementia Service Lead at the Trust, said: "It's important that our elderly patients, and especially our patients with dementia, stay active where possible and keep their minds busy to help tackle feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression.”

One of those taking part in the sessions was David Wiggins from South Ockendon, who said: “That was a barrel of laughs, let’s do it again”, while another patient, Janette, said she “thoroughly enjoyed the music played.”

The activities are run by the therapy team at Broomfield Hospital and volunteers from Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity and allow patients to get involved in easy exercises to help with blood flow and movement of the body.

Jas Bdesha, Therapy Assistant, said: “The sessions inject fun and laughter into these patients’ days and it brings out emotions in them that they may not have experienced for a while. From my point of view, I’m there to get the patients moving more, but I do love to see them sing and become more animated.”

Phil Wright, a volunteer who helps to host this session each week, said: “Seeing the patients engage with us is such a rewarding feeling. Some of the elderly patients we see have dementia, so it’s lovely to see smiles on their faces and positive interactions. Some even shake my hand to say thank you afterwards.”