Health Ministry to Start Park Walker Programme for Seniors in Montego Bay

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is set to introduce the Park Walker Initiative for Older Adults on Friday, May 29, at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St. James.

The programme is designed to help senior citizens keep moving, maintain social ties and support their mental wellness through supervised walks and health-focused activities in public areas that are safe and easy to access across Jamaica.

The effort falls under Jamaica Moves and is being carried out with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) and the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA).

Activities planned for the launch include group walks, medical checks, wellness information sessions, stretching, dance aerobics, seated exercise routines, obstacle-course events and the distribution of healthy snacks.

The Ministry and its partners are inviting older persons, caregivers, relatives, health professionals and the wider public to attend, as they continue efforts to support healthy ageing, more active lifestyles and better quality of life for Jamaica's senior population.

Travene Morrison, National Physical Activity Specialist in the Ministry, told JIS News the programme was shaped by Jamaica's expanding elderly population and by the need to keep older people involved and physically active.

“What we are trying to do is increase physical activity in our ageing population. We have more and more people getting older these days, and it’s important that we don’t forget that segment of our population,” he said.

Mr. Morrison said the initiative will give older Jamaicans from different communities a chance to come together, exercise, make contacts and strengthen social bonds while working on their general health.

He said the exercises were arranged so persons with varying levels of ability can take part, with options ranging from walking and dance aerobics to chair-based movements and flexibility work.

“The walk is the safest and cheapest type of physical activity that you can do, and that is why it is the focus of the Park Walker Initiative,” he said.

Mr. Morrison added that Friday's launch will also offer mental health booths, blood-sugar and blood-pressure testing, along with obstacle-course competitions suited to older adults, with prizes to be awarded.

He told JIS News that the programme was created in close collaboration with the NCSC, which has helped to organise seniors and encourage them to get involved.

Mr. Morrison said the project will depend heavily on partnerships and participation from communities if it is to last.

“The long-term goal is for it to be sustained. At the national level, we launch it, but the parishes are also involved and will help to maintain it. Once seniors take ownership of the programme, it should continue to grow,” he said.

Dr. Kemisha Shaw-Kelly, Programme Development Officer in the Ministry's Family Health Unit, said steady exercise is vital for older adults.

She said physical activity supports movement, independence, muscle power, balance, blood flow and mental health, while lowering the chances of falls and chronic disease.

Dr. Shaw-Kelly said consistent walking can assist older persons in managing hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, and can also build stamina, flexibility and energy.

She pointed to studies showing that 30 minutes of moderate walking on five days each week can lower systolic blood pressure by five to eight millimetres of mercury among older adults with mild hypertension.

Dr. Shaw-Kelly said even modest daily movement can make a major difference to seniors' long-term health.

“Staying active is one of the most effective ways to maintain independence, support healthy ageing, and improve quality of life,” she stressed.

She also said the programme's success will rely on community support, including encouragement from families, caregivers, health workers and neighbourhoods, which can help older adults stay motivated and connected.

Dr. Shaw-Kelly said the Ministry wants Jamaicans to recognise that healthy ageing starts with small, steady lifestyle habits, including exercise, nutritious food, routine health checks and regular social contact.

She said when communities take part together in programmes such as the Park Walker Initiative, they can help build healthier, stronger and more active spaces for older adults across Jamaica.