The Catholic Leader Flipbook - Issue 5594 - March 22

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The Catholic Leader, March 22, 2020
SENIOR LIVING
Advertising
Feature
If you’re over 60 you may
be eligible for subsidised
services that will help you live
well in your own home and
community, for longer.
Phone us on 1300 236 822
“Growing up I could do anything,
so I appreciate the opportunity
to stay active with weekly balance,
yoga and tai chi classes.”
Dot, 87,
Centacare client from Mitchelton
Centacare is our Catholic aged care
service in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Feeling strong
helps me live well
Later years
no time to
take it easy
DOT is 87 years old and lives with dementia.
But watching her go through the moves in her weekly balance
class, she does not look a day over 60.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to be physically active at my
age,” Dot said.
“Growing up I could do anything. We lived at Grovely and
every day I walked miles to get to Mitchelton State School. I
played tennis every Sunday and also ‘cricko’ – a game like cricket
that girls played.”
Dot lives independently in her own home in Mitchelton.
She uses funding through the Commonwealth Home Support
Program to participate in activities and social outings at Centac-
are’s Community Centre in Enoggera.
She loves bus trips, art and music, but the weekly balance, yoga
and tai chi classes are her favourite.
Dot and her friends at Centacare Enoggera work with Mobile
Rehab exercise physiologist Jesse Dodd, who provides group
classes specifically designed for over 65s who want to improve
their health and wellbeing.
“Some people think that with each passing year they should
‘take it easy’ and do less,” Mr Dodd said.
“In reality, exercising regularly as you age is a great way to
prevent the onset of disease and avoid injuries or lifestyle related
accidents.”
Centacare opperations manager Kat Davies said her staff work
closely with Mobile Rehab to ensure clients received holistic care,
in line with their individual health and wellness goals.
“Individual goals vary from client to client. We work with cli-
ents that want to manage chronic health conditions such as stroke,
arthritis, depression or obesity,” Ms Davies said.
“Some want to build strength, healthy bones and joints to reduce
falls and the risk of injury. Many of our clients want to simply
maintain their good health and physical function, which they
know will help them live happily and independently in their own
homes and communities for years to come.
“Education is a big part of what we do. Our clients are encour-
aged to incorporate activity into their lives in as many ways as
possible.
“In addition to our structured group classes, our community
hubs also offer more leisurely pursuits that involve physical activ-
ity such as bocce, woodwork, men’s shed, gardening, walking,
outings and day trips.
“We see the benefits first hand in many of our clients, which is
just wonderful.”
If you’re over the age of 65 and want to improve your
health and wellbeing, phone Centacare on 1300 236 822.
We’ll help you find out what activities are available in your
local area and step you through the process to access
government funding.
Par-
ticipation:
Evidence
suggests
that only
a small
number
of people
aged
over 65
– fewer
than 20
per cent
– engage
in a suf-
ficient
level of
physical
activity.
Mobile
Rehab’s
Jesse
Dodd
provides
weekly
balance,
tai chi
and yoga
classes at
Cen-
tacare’s
Enoggera
communi-
ty centre.