Living Longer Living Stronger™ in

Western Australia

Bettine Heathcote, COTA WA

©STEPS Professional Development 2012 / Slide 2

LLLS™ WA: By the Numbers

• Commenced December 2004

• Currently over 70 providers state-wide – including metropolitan &

regional areas

• Estimated 8,500 people participate weekly

• Age Breakdowns: 50- 60 y.o – 17%, 61-64 y.o – 24%, 65-79 y.o –

43%, 80+y.o. – 13%, Other (younger people with disabilities) - 3%

• 204 instructors trained in last 3 years (2009-2011), 19% regional

• 611 participant information packs sent in last 15 months (introduced

Jan 2011)

• 1x FT Manager and 1x FT Project & Programs Development Officer

©STEPS Professional Development 2012 / Slide 3

LLLS™ WA: Key Milestones• Introduced tiered health system in 2009/2010 to provide a service to those “at risk”

• Tier One Providers – Physio/Exercise Physiologists

• Tier Two Providers – Min Cert IV Fitness Professionals, Extra LLLS training

• Department of Health funding – Injury Prevention Branch – Falls Prevention 2006-Current

• Inclusion on the WA Department of Health Model of Care for Osteoporosis, Musculoskeletal Care and Falls Prevention as the Peak community exercise program in WA.

• Key partnership with Stay On Your Feet WA® to disseminate Falls Resources

• Introduction of LLLS Excellence Awards Dinner in 2009

• Introduction of WA Active Ageing Conference 2011

Slide 4

JUST 18 MONTHS AGO, IN FEBRUARY 2010, JOHN

SKUDDER SURVIVED A RIGHT-SIDED THALAMIC STROKE

AND SPENT TWO MONTHS IN HOSPITAL. HE WAS

TOTALLY PARALYSED DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE AND HIS

MUSCLES WERE WASTING AWAY. HE WAS UNABLE TO DO

ANYTHING FOR HIMSELF AND HE COULD ONLY SPEAK A

FEW WORDS.

Success Stories – Part 1Mr John Skudder, 2011 Most Outstanding Achievement by a Participant (Metro)

Slide 5

“THE LIVING LONGER LIVING STRONGER PROGRAM IS

IDEAL FOR ME, GETTING AMONGST PEOPLE THAT ARE OF

THE SAME VINTAGE AND BEING ALLOWED TO GO AT

YOUR OWN PACE.” JOHN SKUDDER, 2011

JOHN SUMS UP THE CHANGE LLLS HAS HAD ON HIS LIFE:

“I HAVE MUCH MORE ENERGY,

I AM MORE ALERT,

I FEEL VERY FIT,

I HAVE GAINED A LOT OF MY MUSCLE BULK IN MY

AFFECTED SIDE,

I STAY AWAKE MUCH LONGER,

I CAN DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN,

I HAVE RE-GAINED NEARLY ALL MY ARM AND SHOULDER

MOVEMENTS,

I AM WALKING GREATER DISTANCE,

I AM COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE AT A MORE NORMAL

LEVEL.”

Success Stories – Part 2Mr John Skudder, 2011 Most Outstanding Achievement by a Participant (Metro)

Slide 6

JON, 74, HAS BEEN A LLLS PARTICIPANT FOR THE

PAST 4 YEARS.

WHEN HE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE PROGRAM BY

HIS WIFE AND DOCTOR HE WAS VERY RELUCTANT.

HIS OPINION WAS “THEY’RE ALL MAD! WHY FIX

SOMETHING THAT’S NOT BROKE, HE WAS FINE!”

BUT HE SOON REALIZED HOW MUCH BETTER HE

COULD FEEL.

HE NOW HAS TWO PROGRAMS HE WORKS FROM

(ONE CARDIO AND ONE STRENGTH) AND ATTENDS 6

X PER WEEK, ALSO PARTICIPATING WHEN

TRAVELLING TO PERTH.

Success Stories – Part 2Mr Jon Brien, 2011 Most Outstanding Achievement by a Participant (Regional)

Slide 7

LLLS™: “Community Within a Community”

• Compulsory “Social Component” provided after each session e.g.

morning or afternoon tea/coffee

• Regular social events e.g. Christmas Parties, Easter Events,

Melbourne Cup

• Found to be a key program for “Community Reintegration”

• Results from the 2011 Participant Survey:• What do you enjoy most about LLLS?63% - Seeing my friends, social morning tea.• What benefit motivates you most to attend?42% - Catch up with friends, social interaction.• What do you miss most if you don’t attend?78% - Seeing my friends & instructors.

Slide 8

LLLS™: “Community Within a Community”

• Two Case Studies from the Participant Survey• 58 yo, Male, loss of partner 8 months prior.• Invited to “Come & try LLLS day” by friend.• Initial comments “Fun, enjoyable and benefits my health”• After 3 months “Feel healthier, I’ve made new friends”• After 12 months “I’m glad I did this its changed my life!”

• 71 yo, Female, living alone, seeking domestic assistance.• Received brochure from assessor, sought referral from GP.• Attended once, received phone call from “worried” participants.• “It felt wonderful to know someone cared about me”.

Slide 9

Closing Quote

“I lost my wife in 2007 and proceeded on a downward spiral out of control. I was having a mid-life crisis and felt very depressed. I spoke to a friend every now and then but that didn’t really help. I went to the Senior Citz, but that was full of OLD PEOPLE!

My Doctor and daughter both recommended Living Longer Living Stronger at the Rec Centre. I never looked back, the combination of exercise and meeting new people SAVED MY LIFE”. LLLS Participant*, Harvey 2009. *Name withheld due to privacy reasons.

Slide 10

Federal Minister for Health & Ageing Mark Butler MP, finds out

first hand what its all about!!

Slide 11

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape,

so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising.

I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down,

and perspired for an hour.

But, by the time I got my leotard on, the class was over.

Slide 12