12 RUNAWAY BAY HAS MOVED to 7 GATEWAY DRIVE, BIGGERA WATERS sales • hire • repair • service Come in and see our new expanded product range • mobility scooters • power chairs • wheel chairs • walkers • crutches & canes • lift chairs • walking frames • knee walkers 5500 6245 scootersandmobility.com.au • daily living aids • beds & mattresses • pillows & cushions • bathroom & hygiene • patient handling • pressure care • bariatric • rehabilitation 7 GATEWAY DRIVE, BIGGERA WATERS Life is all about balance for Tallai’s Giulia Tallai’s Giulia Greenall led a wellbalanced life until a simple trip at home earlier this year threw her off kilter. “I’m an active 72-year-old and I feel as young as I ever have, but I knew I needed to get back to fitness after babysitting my four grandchildren, where exercise became less of a priority. I knew it was time to talk to my GP about getting on an exercise program suited to my needs, and that’s how I learned about the I Am Not Frail program,” she said. Then fate stepped in to hurry matters along. “Shortly after seeing the doctor, I was rushing to go to lunch, and I tripped over a quilt that I hadn’t tucked in far enough at the end of the bed, and down I went,” Giulia said. “I took the fall on my knees, and even though I threw ice packs on both straight away, they bruised and swelled, and my balance and gait were thrown right out; it was a bit of a wake-up call. So, I had literally stumbled into the I Am Not Frail program at just the right time,” she said. An initiative of the Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN), I Am Not Frail offers three programs with ready access to physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, dietitians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. The focus is on tailoring exercises, diet and other factors to target any existing restrictions and strength losses so each individual can reach their goal. People 65 years or older or over 55 First Nations peoples simply need a referral from their doctor indicating they show just one sign of frailty. For pensioners or people on a health care card, the program is free. According to the Clinical Director of the GCPHN Turning Pain into Gain and Frailty Care in the Community programs and PainWISE Managing director Joyce McSwan it’s all about heading frailty off at the pass. “The programs are designed to keep people in the community doing the things they want to do for as long as possible,” Joyce said. “They’ve been developed in response to the fact that about a quarter of Gold Coasters over the age of 70 are frail. That means they might often feel tired or weak, have trouble walking short distances or up 10 stairs without help, have major illnesses or they might have unintentionally lost weight. People with only one sign of frailty lose their ability to bounce back from illness or an accident and that’s something Giulia was keen to avoid,” she said. Giulia said she didn’t expect the whole-of-body and mind health benefits the programs deliver. “It’s all very social working with the instructors and doing the group circuit work with likeminded people just wanting to stay fit and healthy. I’m also encouraging a couple of my neighbours to get onboard for the exercise advantages and social interaction; I’d recommend it to anyone,” she said. The Gold Coast Primary Health Network’s I Am Not Frail programs comprise the Frailty Care in the Community Program, The Bond University Allied Health Interprofessional Health Lifestyle Program and the Mungulli Yarn and Walk Program. People wanting further information on I Am Not Frail can speak to their general practitioner or visit gcphn.org.au.
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