Health and wellbeing
Health and Wellbeing Board to note progress in helping Walsall residents age well
Published on
A wide-ranging programme of work aimed at helping older residents be active, independent and connected is set to be highlighted at a meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board on Thursday 5 November 2026.
Board members will receive an update on the council and partners’ Ageing Well programme, which has been developed in response to a growing need to focus on prevention, early intervention and community-based support for older residents in Walsall. The programme forms part of the Older People and Prevention priority agreed by the Board in 2024 and is proposed as a key theme within the draft Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026-2030.
The update showcases progress across several areas, including falls and frailty prevention, dementia support, helping people maintain their independence and improving support for unpaid carers.
One key initiative is the ‘Feel Good Friday’ clinic at the Stan Ball Centre in Bloxwich, established with the support of Walsall Together and led by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which brings together professionals from health, social care and community services to provide personalised support for older people living with frailty. Since launching, 124 residents have attended the clinic, with 108 receiving one or more interventions (such as reviewing medicines, falls prevention support, further referrals and social prescribing) as part of the service. Furthermore, five hospital admissions were avoided through community-based care during the 12-week pilot.
The Board will also hear about investment in falls prevention. The Health in Later Life Physical Activity Programme, commissioned by Walsall Council Public Health, is now being delivered across Walsall's four localities, offering activities such as walking, yoga, Tai Chi and chair-based exercise sessions to help older residents improve strength, balance and confidence. A new specialist strength and balance service is also being procured to support up to 300 residents a year who are at greater risk of falls.
Progress has also been made in supporting residents to remain independent through Adult Social Care's Pathway to Independence service. During 2025/26, 575 people successfully completed a reablement programme, with 75.9% requiring no ongoing support when they left the service, helping more people remain independent at home for longer.
Alongside this, work continues with Walsall Together to strengthen dementia pathways and simple activities to prevent and slow down dementia support and create more dementia-friendly communities. A recent dementia needs assessment estimates the number of people aged 65 and over living with dementia in Walsall could increase by around 26% by 2040, highlighting the importance of continued action and support.
The report also highlights progress in supporting unpaid carers. In 2025/26, 1,361 carers were identified across the borough, a 15.1% increase on the previous year, while the number of completed carers' assessments also increased by 11%.
“ Supporting people to maintain their independence for as long as possible is important. The achievements outlined in this report show how the right support at the right time can help residents remain safe, well and living independently in their own homes.
Whether through reablement services, support for unpaid carers or initiatives that prevent avoidable hospital admissions, this work is helping people retain their independence while ensuring care and support are available when needed. “
“ Helping people to stay healthy is a key part of improving health and wellbeing across Walsall. By focusing on prevention, early intervention and community support, we can help residents be healthier, more active and more connected as they get older.
The progress highlighted in this report demonstrates the positive impact of partnership working across the borough. From falls prevention and dementia support to helping carers and tackling social isolation, these initiatives are making a real difference to people's health and quality of life. “
The full papers for the Health and Wellbeing Board can be found on the Council’s Committee Information and Management Systems (CMIS) site.
