Belong Blue Mountains has launched a new video resource called 'Find Your Feet' to help older community members remain healthy and independent in the community.
The 'Find Your Feet' video was developed by the Belong Blue Mountains 'Healthy Elders Active Living' (HEAL) team and allied health clinicians. It includes information and practical guidance about building confidence, keeping healthy and independent, and improving strength and balance as we age. It also discusses some frequently asked questions and provides helpful ideas to put into practice.
Macquarie MP Susan Templeman and Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle helped launch the initiative at the Mid-Mountains Neighbourhood Centre in Lawson on September 30.
"Falls are the leading cause of hospitalisation for seniors, and can sometimes mean those who've had one won't be able to return home," said Ms Templeman. "I know this from personal experience, as a series of falls by my father was one of the reasons he was unable to remain safely at home.
"It's so important that we ensure our more vulnerable members of the community get the right support to not only prevent falls from happening through improving strength and balance, but how to get up safely and regain confidence after a fall. This video resource is a really simple yet effective way to get the message across to older people and their carers."
Trish Doyle said: "This has been a difficult year for our community with the bushfires and now the pandemic. I have been aware of the particular difficulties facing our older citizens - many have been isolated for many months now. So many older people do not have family nearby. Therefore, community organisations like Belong Blue Mountains and their staff are essential parts of their support network.
"Keeping active and strong is so important to the physical and emotional well-being of people, especially as we age. This program, with its focus on falls prevention, provides guidelines for living safely and well at home. I congratulate Belong Blue Mountains and the 'Healthy Elders Active Living' (HEAL) team on this great resource which I know will prove to be beneficial to older people in the Blue Mountains community."
Kath Harrison, CEO of Belong Blue Mountains said their team has been "focused on finding new ways to support the community during COVID-19 and extend existing programs into new formats to help more people who are facing the challenges of isolation".
"I am very proud of this wonderful new resource and I'm sure it will make a positive difference for many of our older community members," she said.
"An important message that we want to highlight with 'Find Your Feet' is that ageing is not a disease; it is a process that can be managed" said Christine Baird, HEAL project manager. "This resource supports our 'Standing Strong' strength and balance exercise classes."
The Belong Blue Mountains HEAL program is a multi-disciplinary allied health service that provides individualised care for people aged 65 years and over, aimed at supporting and developing individual strength and capacity, physical and emotional wellbeing and personal and home safety.
The 'Find Your Feet' video is now available on DVD and USB from Belong Blue Mountains at no cost to community members. The video can also be found on the Belong Blue Mountains You Tube Channel - go to You Tube and search for Belong Blue Mountains.
If you, or someone you know, would like a copy of the 'Find Your Feet' video or would like to find out more about how the HEAL 'Healthy Elders Active Living' Program can help, call Eddie at Belong Blue Mountains on 0403 880 560, email HEAL@belongbm.org.au, search for Belong Blue Mountains on You Tube, or go to www.belongbm.org.au/heal.
