With investment in preventative health earmarked as an essential national health focus in the Productivity Commission’s Delivering Quality Care More Efficiently interim report this month, new results from Bolton Clarke’s Be Healthy and Active education sessions show the impact of educating people to age positively.
Now in its 10th year, the internationally recognised program has delivered free sessions to more than 38,000 people in retirement villages and community venues across Australia, with new sessions developed based on demand.
Latest results show up to 90 per cent of participants reported they had made positive lifestyle changes three months after attending a Be Healthy and Active Healthy Brain Healthy Body session, while 74 per cent made changes to reduce falls risk after the Falls Prevention topic.
More than 70 per cent had made changes to reduce their dementia risk after a session on Understanding Dementia, and 80 per cent reported they had improved their diet after attending a bowel health session.
Other session topics include CPR and defibrillation, first aid, healthy bladder, healthy eating, healthy feet, healthy skin, managing sleep and fatigue, stress reduction and mindfulness.
“Research shows living a healthy lifestyle improves chances of ageing well,” Bolton Clarke Community Programs Manager Kerry Rendell said. “Bolton Clarke’s program aims to give people practical information that will help them stay independent at home for longer.
“Be Healthy and Active sessions make it easy for people to access the information they need – we deliver sessions for community organisations like Probus Clubs, U3A, Men’s Sheds and other seniors’ groups, in bowls clubs, local council libraries and community centres and in partnership with retirement villages.
“We also have video resources online and deliver sessions in a variety of community languages.”
The program is part of a suite of preventative health interventions backed by Bolton Clarke Research Institute, clinical and allied health expertise including programs tackling frailty, intergenerational collaborations and social connection and social prescribing initiatives.
The Productivity Commission’s interim report has recommended establishment of a national framework for preventative health investment supporting governments to invest in prevention programs that improve outcomes and reduce demand for future acute care services.
