Supporting Those Who Care: Free Strength Class and Respite Care Sessions for Family Caregivers

Family Caregivers dedicate their lives to looking after their loved ones, always putting the needs of those they care for above their own. Caring is an immensely rewarding task, but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding. Every caregiver deserves a moment to breathe, to focus on their own health and well-being, and to feel supported by others who understand their journey.

A Space for Family Caregivers to Reconnect

Held every Monday at Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre in Stowmarket, this initiative provides family caregivers with a valuable opportunity to focus on their own physical and mental well-being, knowing their loved ones are safe, engaged, and cared for just a room away. Joanne Beales, Activity and Wellbeing Coordinator for Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, Everyone Active, and exercise instructor for the class, is delighted to run these sessions, emphasizing,

“We want to help carers in the local community take a break and make time for their well-being, secure in the knowledge their loved ones are being cared for by qualified professionals.”

It’s more than just an exercise class

The hour-long yoga-style class is designed to help improve mobility, posture, and strength while incorporating breathing techniques and relaxation to help reduce stress. The session then ends with a free tea or coffee in the café, allowing time for a good chat with others from the class.

Meanwhile, in the family room just across the way, Christies Care’s fully trained hourly care assistants provide compassionate and engaging support for loved ones. Whether it’s enjoying the refreshments and good company, chatting with our carers, board games, crafts, seated exercise activities, and more, we take the time to deliver personalised support to each individual - because everyone deserves to feel included and valued.

This is more than just a class—it’s a chance to recharge and step away from the demands of care, if only for an hour without having to arrange or pay for the care of their loved ones. And for loved ones, it’s an opportunity to socialise, stay active, and simply enjoy a little fun.

Finding Joy in the Game: Martin’s Story

Every Monday, Martin and his wife arrive at our Stretch & Strengthen and Respite Care session. Martin has dementia, and his wife cares for him at home—a role she embraces, as all family caregivers do, with love and dedication.

This weekly session is her moment to herself, a moment to reconnect and take a break from her caregiving responsibilities.

While she takes part in the yoga-style class, Martin spends the hour with our Christies carers in the next room.

From the start, we sought ways to engage him—puzzles, games, conversation—but nothing seemed to spark his interest.

We don’t believe in simply assuming that someone with dementia has lost all enthusiasm for activity. Absolutely not! Instead, we explore, we listen, and we learn what makes each individual sit up a little taller, smile, and connect with us and others.

And in most cases, as we did with Martin, we find it!

One day, we introduced Table Tennis. Suddenly, Martin, standing at the table, paddle in hand, was ready for a match. Since that moment, not a session goes by without Martin stepping up to the challenge. The smile on his face, the movement, the laughter—it’s a special reminder of why we do what we do and the other half of the reason we started these sessions.

For Martin’s wife, this hour isn’t just about exercise; it’s about peace of mind. She knows Martin is not just being looked after—he is truly engaged and staying active. And for Martin, it’s more than just a game. It’s a connection and an important way to still be part of something.

This is the heart of our work. We don’t just provide care; we create opportunities for both our clients and their loved ones to thrive in their own ways. And if that means a game of Table Tennis every Monday, then we’ll be there, paddles at the ready.