Council on the Ageing (Victoria)
cotavic@cotavic.org.au
Copyright 2006 Council on the Ageing
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Approximately 10,000 people over the age of 50 currently participate in COTA endorsed Living Longer Living Stronger™ strength training programs at about 120 facilities around Victoria.
Strength training: How, why and where
For more information on Strength training: How, why and where, click here
For a list of metropolitan centres, click here
For a list of rural and regional centres, click here
OR
To find your local Living Longer Living Stronger™ provider, search the Seniors Information Victoria On-line Directory
Enter your town or suburb name and one or two of the following key words (for example, strength training, stronger, living longer) in the Search for box and click Quick Search.
Are you a Living Longer Living Stronger™ partner?
Or, would you like to be a Living Longer Living Stronger™ partner?
For more information on Living Longer Living Stronger™ partners, click here
Research finds positive outcomes for Living Longer Living Stronger participants
The National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) has released the findings of their recently completed research into the impact of participation in Living Longer Living Stronger™. The results provide more good reasons to encourage older people to consider joining their local Living Longer Living Stronger™group.
While most findings regarding the benefits of physical activity, including strength training, have been obtained in a laboratory, this research investigated the impact of Living Longer Living Stronger™ as it operates in the community.
New participants at a number of metropolitan LLLS providers were tested before commencing the program and then again at four months and eight months.
After eight months there were significant improvements in measures of balance, gait, strength and function and in self-reported health and well being. Significant improvements were evident as early as four months.
Click here for the Executive Summary of the research report.
For the full report go to http://www.mednwh.unimelb.edu.au/research/health_promotion.htm
COTA’s Living Longer Living Stronger™ Annual Conference
Lifting the bar: Living Longer Living Stronger™ into the future
About 170 people, from both current and prospective partner organisations, attended the LLLS™ conference, conducted on Tuesday 22 July. It was pleasing to see such a high level of interest from new partners and organisations not yet involved in LLLS™ and we look forward to welcoming them on board.
Don Nardella MLA, Member for Melton, opened the conference on behalf of the Victorian Government Minister for Senior Victorians, Lisa Neville.
The morning program focussed on general issues. Dr Ralph Audehm provided some valuable advice on how program coordinators and instructors can encourage health professionals, especially GPs, to refer to LLLS™, Freda Vrandtsidis presented preliminary findings from the National Ageing Research Institute’s (NARI) study on LLLS™, and Scott Way provoked and challenged the audience to consider more critically just how well they cater for the needs of older people.
The afternoon concurrent sessions addressed more specific partner interests. Topics for the panel sessions, Engaging culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups and Promoting transition for LLLS™ participants from community health centre-based programs to fitness centres', were chosen on the basis of feedback from our partners. Other concurrent sessions addressed nutrition, progressive programming for strength training, use of local media in promotion and the new state-government diabetes prevention program, Life!, as a referral opportunity.
The following conference presentations are available to download:
Encouraging health professionals to refer to Living Longer Living Stronger™
Dr Ralph Audehm, GP and Director Programs and Services, Diabetes Australia – VicNational Ageing Research Institute (NARI) Living Longer Living Stronger™ Research Project: The impact of LLLS on participants—preliminary findings
Freda Vrantsidis, Researcher, National Ageing Research InstituteCatering for the diverse needs of the new older generation
Scott Way, Managing Director, PKF Organisation DevelopmentLiving Longer Living Stronger™: 2008-2010
Stephanie Harper, Physical Activity Manager, COTA VicNutrition and strength training for older people
Stephanie Dyer, Accredited Practising DietitianA referral opportunity: Diabetes prevention
Angie Deegan, General Practice & Health Professional Coordinator, Life!Practical progression: Some strategies for progressive programming
Aaron Whear, Managing Director, Career Fitness, CAE fitness training providerPromoting your program: Using the media effectively
Lyn Curtis, Media and Communications Manager, Diabetes Australia – Vic
