Former fitness coach aged 87 says care home inspired him to walk again

An 87-year-old ex-fitness instructor says he has been inspired to walk again after hosting exercise classes for his fellow care home residents.

Care home resident Ken leads the popular ‘Star Moves with Ken’ exercise class at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton care home and says being an instructor again has already helped him stand for the first time since December 2020.

Classes give me 'hope' I will walk again

The resident learned to stand during a physiotherapy session at his care home and now says the exercise classes he hosts "keep me going and give me the hope I will achieve my goal to walk again.”

During his career, Ken was a qualified YMCA weight trainer and taught low-impact aerobics for people aged 60+. His exercise classes are adapted from these and are approved by the care home’s physiotherapist Nirali Dave.

Having served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps from 1952-54, Ken said: “As I’ve always been a relatively fit and healthy person, it came as a bit of a shock when I was taken ill and my legs gave way in 2020.

“So it means a hell of a lot to me that I can do these classes, and that people trust me and are willing to come to training every day – it’s a huge compliment.”

Ken’s fitness class involves simple sit-down exercises aimed at improving mobility and boosting residents’ wellbeing. All the exercises are body warm-up exercises aimed at reducing stiffness and promoting circulation.

Ken says his classes have more than a physical impact on residents. “It brings people together as a group. It’s a social thing and a boost for physical and mental wellbeing. We motivate each other. It doesn’t matter if they can’t do everything – I tell them to only do what feels comfortable.”

The classes are 25 minutes long, take place six days a week and attract up to 10 care home residents per session. Nirali Dave, physiotherapist at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton care home, which cares for veterans and their partners, said: “Ken is doing a great job. I think it’s a really good idea to do chair-based exercises, and it’s very popular with residents.”

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