With the next Stay On Your Feet® Improve Your Health campaign launching in September, Injury Matters congratulates the successful Improve Your Health grant recipients who have commenced planning their community-based falls prevention grant programs.
Improve Your Health is one part of the Move Improve Remove messaging that encourages older adults to stay active, independent, and prevent falls. Improve Your Health looks at simple changes for preventing falls, focusing on nutrition, cognition and medication management.
WA Country Health Service South West
The WA Country Health Service South West will address the Fuel Your Body, Keep A Healthy Mind and Check Your Medicines aspects of the Improve Your Health campaign.
The six-week educational program aims to increase the knowledge of modifiable falls prevention risk factors in older adults living in the Shire of Augusta Margaret River. A multi-disciplinary team of health professionals will offer specialist knowledge of the Improve Your Health key messages, empowering participants to effectively manage their medications, eat a healthy diet with the right nutrients and engage in activities to keep their mind active.
Shire of Tammin
The Shire of Tammin will address the Fuel Your Body, Keep A Healthy Mind and Check Your Medicines aspects of the Improve Your Health campaign.
To reduce falls and promote healthy ageing in the community, the Shire of Tammin will deliver a four week program involving Physiotherapist-led movement sessions in the morning, followed by hands-on meal preparation session introducing healthy eating strategies, take home weekly menu planning and preparation ideas as well as nutritious cost-effective options for meals (and of course enjoying the delicious food prepared). Information sessions will also be presented by health professionals addressing the safe use of medicines and management tools, home safety, alcohol and keeping an active mind to prevent falls.
Shire of Brookton
The Shire of Brookton will address the Fuel Your Body, Keep A Healthy Mind and Check Your Medicines aspects of the Improve Your Health campaign. The aim of the program is to encourage older adults to participate in healthy behaviours and activities that keep their mind and body active to prevent falls so they can stay independent in their homes for longer.
Brookton Ballroom for Balance 2024 is an opportunity for older adults living in the Shire of Brookton community to participate in a six-week course of ballroom dancing. The program will also involve education sessions from a local Pharmacist and a Dietician from Narrogin Hospital (WACHS) to educate participants on the importance of medicine reviews and management, as well as fueling their bodies with nutrient-dense foods to prevent falls.
Karratha Central Health Care
Karratha Central Health Care will address the Fuel Your Body aspect of the Improve Your Health campaign. The project aim is to engage with older adults in the Roebourne community to increase their understanding of the importance of good nutrition and the link between nutrition, strength and balance in preventing falls.
The program includes a series of four workshops at Yaandina Community Care Service. Each workshop will be facilitated by the dietitian and will involve creating and cooking healthy, nutritious meals that are rich in calcium, vitamin D and protein. Meals will include the use of traditional food, and items that are locally available in Roebourne. The dietitian will discuss important topics while cooking, and participants will participate in a ‘lunch and learn’ style yarn with other staff including a physio and podiatrist.
Are you interested in being involved in one of these programs?
Get in touch with Shaan Brems, our grants coordinator via [email protected] and we’ll connect you.