This April Falls Month older people living in south-east NSW are being encouraged to look after themselves with regular exercise and activity to help maintain independence. ‘Falls Prevention is everyone’s business’ is the theme of this year’s April Falls Month, an annual event supported by the NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network to encourage older adults to become more active and reduce falls.
Brodie Palmer, Health Promotion Officer at Southern NSW Local Health District, emphasised the importance of staying active.
“Keeping active is one of the best things we can do to maintain our independence as we age. Regular exercise helps improve balance, strength, and confidence, making everyday activities easier and reducing the risk of falls,” Ms Palmer said.
“Whether it’s joining (or starting!) a Heart Foundation Walking group, taking part in a local exercise class, or using the Active & Healthy directory to find a program that suits you, there are many ways to stay moving. Every little bit of activity counts, so find something you enjoy and make it part of your routine,” Ms Palmer added.
Ms Palmer explained that Southern NSW Local Health District’s physiotherapy teams work closely with community members to provide targeted support and interventions for those at risk of falls or frailty.
NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network Lead Advisor Professor Cathie Sherrington said staying physically active is the single most important thing we can do to stay independent as we age.
“During ageing, our bodies change, losing muscle strength and coordination so the more active we remain, the better chance we have of maintaining our physical function,” Prof Sherrington said.
Improving balance and strength in our legs allows us to complete regular daily activities more easily, including getting up and down stairs, in and out of cars, negotiating uneven surfaces and reducing the risk of falling.
If older people are feeling unsteady on their feet or are having eyesight changes or pain in their feet seeing specialists such as a physiotherapist for balance and strength testing, an optometrist for vision changes and a podiatrist to reduce foot pain can help to maintain independence. See your GP for issues that worry you and for referrals to other health practitioners.
“Falls prevention is everyone’s business and research has shown that regular exercise can reduce falls in older people by 23 per cent. Importantly, slowly building up high-challenge balance exercises can increase the effects of exercise by up to 40 per cent,” Prof Sherrington said.
Explore helpful resources for falls prevention on the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission website and learn how to stay active with guidance from the NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network. Looking for a local exercise group? Visit the NSW Active and Healthy website to find programs that support strength and balance.