Homecare provider offering free exercise classes
11 Jul 2025
3 min read
Home care provider Walfinch Newcastle has launched free, local exercise and activity sessions, partly inspired by Betty Dunn, from North Shields.
Basic exercise took Betty, 90, from being bedridden to walking around her home and making her own meals, in just two weeks.
Betty, was diagnosed with osteoporosis, a condition where the bones become weaker and break easily. She was referred to a rehabilitation centre and when visited by Lisa Souley Registered Care Manager from鈥� Walfinch Newcastle, Lisa could see how debilitating the pain was.
Physiotherapists prescribed Betty with seated exercises, for her legs and feet which made all the difference to her recovery.
Betty says:
While I was in the centre I did all my exercises daily inspired by another patient who was 101 and still exercising.
When she was discharged, and Lisa went to see her she could see a big difference. Lisa says:
Betty was a different woman. I told her it was like a miracle.鈥� She could walk again.鈥� You could even see the transformation in her face.
Betty is now back to making her own meals and only needs care for half an hour each morning.
Betty says:
These few exercises have brightened me up completely. I still do them four times a day and when I'm sitting down knitting.
Betty’s recovery inspired Walfinch Home Care Newcastle to launch their Time to Thrive activity sessions.
Idris Nasar, Managing Director of Walfinch Home Care Newcastle, says:
Seeing Betty's transformation means we have brought forward our plans to launch free activity sessions in the community, as part of Walfinch Home Care's nationwide Time to Thrive initiative. The sessions are part of Walfinch's new approach to care.鈥� They will be open to all, not just our care clients, and the exercises will be suitable for anyone 鈥� maybe things like seated yoga 鈥� and fun to do.鈥� We will offer free refreshments and time to chat, so people who come will benefit physically, mentally and socially. Walfinch believes that care should not just be about keeping people alive, but helping them thrive.
The sessions are organised by Walfinch carers, and held in a local community centre.
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