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When it comes to ageing, independence is everything. It’s not just about living longer, it’s about living well for as long as possible. Getting out of bed, putting on your shoes, walking to the shops are simple, everyday actions that we may take for granted now, but can make all the difference to our quality of life as we age.

As Mr Motivator (Derrick Evans MBE) has long championed, the key to maintaining independence is prevention. Evans was the special guest on the latest Virtual Club session hosted by LFX, a networking and education platform for fitness, health and wellbeing. He said the sooner people start moving, even in their later years, the better.

“If you have the opportunity to improve your independence, to hold on to your dignity, then you should be embracing it. Movement is medicine,” he said 

Movement doesn’t have to mean intense workouts or intimidating gym sessions. In fact, it starts with the simplest of actions. 

“The moment you turn over in bed in the morning you have started exercising. When you stand up and walk you are using your muscles. Exercise can be as easy and simple as that. All we are saying is that we want you to do a bit more than that,” he said.

Evans spoke about wanting to maintain his independence for as long as possible, not just for himself, but to ease the burden on loved ones as well as the healthcare system. If more people took responsibly for their health and fitness, the pressure the NHS could be significantly reduced, he said.

Missing the active ageing opportunity

New research from the Health Foundation shows that millions of people are at risk of losing their precious independence as they age. Figures show that healthy life expectancy - the number of years we can expect to live in good health - has fallen by around two years over the last decade, now sitting at just under 61 for both men and women. In over 90% of local areas across Great Britain, healthy life expectancy now falls below the state pension age of 66. In some places, it drops below 55.

The fitness sector is ideally placed to help reverse this trend, but Evans believes the industry still isn’t fully aligned with the needs of older adults. He described recently visiting a gym that felt cold and uninviting with dark spaces and minimal interaction with most people wearing headphones.

“It was like a morgue. We older people want community. That’s what we grew up with and that’s what we need.  Older people want you to call them when they haven’t been in for a while and talk to them when they walk through the door. Those things matter.”
To appeal to older adults, gyms need to create a community around health and wellbeing and put on social activities like social bingo evenings, group outings and educational talks. 

“If you get the mix right and the service and attention right, older people will fill your spaces. Older people are loyal and their bucks go further than younger people’s do,” he said.

Helping older adults stay independent

To support independence in ageing, the fitness sector needs to rethink its approach. Equipment and programmes must feel approachable. This is where solutions like Innerva come to the fore, specifically designed for older adults with low-impact ways to build strength, mobility and confidence. 

Before agreeing to partner with Innerva, Evans said he wanted to see the product in action. 

“I’m very protective of the Motivator brand. If something doesn’t support the message I stand for and meet the standards I believe in, I won’t do it – I’m not in this for the money.” 

What really stood out wasn’t just the power-assisted equipment, but the way people interacted with one another during their workouts, often meeting up afterwards for a cup of tea. Evans said that sense of community reflects everything he believes in.
“The partnership with Innerva ticked all the boxes.”

At the age of 73, Evans says he has no intention of getting old: “For me, independence and dignity go hand in hand and I want to be jumping around like headless chicken until I’m 95.”