Famous cartoon characters The Broons have been drafted in to help tackle ‘deconditioning’ in Argyll and Bute.
NHS Highland and the team behind The Broons have joined forces to launch an educational comic strip for Scotland’s ageing population.
Deconditioning is a term that refers to the physical and functional decline experienced by older adults who are hospitalised.
It is primarily caused by a lack of physical activity and exercise.
Research indicates that older adults admitted to the hospital spend a significant amount of time – up to 95% – either in their beds or chairs, which can lead to deconditioning.
This can have serious implications for long-term health and wellbeing, resulting in prolonged hospital stays, increased risk of falls, and decreased ability to perform independent daily living tasks long after they are discharged from the hospital.
The new campaign aims to prevent, recognise, and reduce deconditioning by providing engaging and accessible health and wellbeing information.
Derek Laidler (above), professional lead physiotherapist for Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Admission to hospital for many older people can be seen as a low-risk option and it’s important for older people, their families and carers as well as health and social care staff to be aware of the very real risks involved when deciding the best options to manage an injury or illness.
“This collaboration with The Broons will help us to get that message across.
“It’s essential that patients and their loved ones understand that the impact of deconditioning and the loss of functional abilities of older people can result in being prematurely housebound or admitted to a nursing care home.
“Therefore, it’s important to make patients and their families aware of these risks and support them to take necessary simple steps to prevent deconditioning during and after hospitalisation.
“We must ensure elderly and frail people remain as independent as possible. It is really important to both their physical and overall health and wellbeing. It maximises their independence and quality of life, provides a sense of purpose, and boosts their self-esteem and confidence.”
DC Thomson’s content manager for heritage brands Kate McAuliffe commented: “We know that part of the enduring success of The Broons is that everyone can see a little bit of themselves in the characters.
“They’ve been entertaining readers for nearly 90 years and it’s wonderful seeing how their lighthearted family-orientated storytelling can be combined with serious medical messages.”
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