Council on the Ageing (Victoria)
cotavic@cotavic.org.au
Copyright 2006 Council on the Ageing
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There is now overwhelming evidence on the importance of physical activity for everyone – with significant benefits for older people. Physical activity provides physical, mental and social benefits that translate to improved health, mobility, independence and wellbeing.
Regular physical activity has the potential to change the way we age. In fact, much loss of function that was once thought to be “normal” ageing is actually the result of not being physically active.
Despite all the important benefits, generally older adults are not active enough for health benefits. The good news is that it's never too late to start.
In realising its mission to mobilise older people, and those who work with them, to age well in a just society, COTA Victoria acknowledges the key role of physical activity, and is committed to developing strategies that encourage and enable people to be active as they age.
COTA has established a Physical Activity Unit to work towards these aims.
2010 Living Longer Living Stronger™ Annual Conference
Reaching the ‘hard to reach’
COTA’s Annual Living Longer Living Stronger™ Conference is an important professional development opportunity for everyone involved or interested in strength training for older people. The morning program focuses on strategies to engage people who would not usually participate in physical activity, especially strength training. The afternoon concurrent sessions provide some new ideas and skills for instructors to add variety and interest to their programs, with a focus on a functional approach to exercise. Other sessions offer an update on arthritis and related conditions, the role of exercise in managing these conditions and catering for people with arthritis in physical activity programs. Details: When: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Thursday 26 August 2010 Where: Victoria University, L12 300 Flinders St Melbourne. Accreditation: 2 PDPs from Kinect Australia / Fitness Australia Pending (Previously: 2 CECs ) Registrations close: Wednesday 18 August. To download the conference brochure, including the registration form, click here. To download the electronic registration form click here.
Living Longer Living Stronger™ is10!
Living Longer Living Stronger™ celebrated its 10th Anniversary at a special event at the Melbourne Town Hall on Wednesday 17 March.
The event incorporated presentation of the inaugural Strength Training for Older People Innovation Awards, the launch of a new brochure and poster, and celebrated the history and achievements of Living Longer Living Stronger™ (LLLS).
It was also an opportunity to look to future goals, opportunities and challenges, given the many and significant changes in the fitness sector since LLLS began in 2000.
COTA President, Janet Wood provided a history of LLLS and introduced Denise Langford from the Australian Barbell Company, who from an industry perspective, but also as a loyal and valued supporter of LLLS over the past 10 years.
Denise then presented the 2009 Strength Training for Older People Innovation Awards, which she kindly sponsored, to City of Yarra Living Longer Living Stronger™ Program (Metropolitan Award) and Ballarat Community Health Living Longer Living Stronger™ Program (Rural/Regional Award). Walwa Bush Nursing Centre received an encouragement award for their Powerbar Program.
For further details on the Strength Training for Older People Innovation Awards, click here.
Sonja Rutherford, participant at Broadmeadows Leisure Centre LLLS from the outset, and successful powerlifter – reiterated the benefits of LLLS and strongly urged everyone with an interest in the health and well being of older people to actively advocate for continued government support. To download Sonja’s speech, click here.
Sue Hendy, COTA Chief Executive Officer, closed by highlighting challenges and opportunities for LLLS in next 10 years and reiterated Sonja’s call for support as COTA takes LLLS into the future.
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Some of the key initiatives the Physical Activity Unit manages are:
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Other Healthy & Active Ageing initiatives:
The WHO Global Age-Friendly Cities Guide provides a valuable basis for improvingenvironments for older people. In consultation with local older people, councils have used the checklist of essential features contained in the Guide to assess their community’s strengths and deficiencies.
“Man does not cease to play because he grows old. Man grows old because he ceases to play.”
George Bernard Shaw
