CSIRO PUBLISHING - New South Wales Public Health Bulletin

Staying Active—Staying Safe: Development of a physical activity and falls prevention resource for older people who dwell in the community

Margaret Armstrong, Amanda Bates, Sally Castell and Patricia Krolik

Abstract

Staying Active—Staying Safe is an initiative of the Northern Sydney Health Promotion unit and the Safe Communities project in Ryde. The aim of the initiative is to develop a resource that promotes exercises that can be completed at home by the more frail members of the older population. The resource consists of an audiotape and a booklet, which facilitate exercise at a pace and at a level of simplicity that is appropriate for this age group. This article describes the development and evaluation of the resource, and considers the ways in which the resource is useful in increasing physical activity, functional mobility, and self-efficacy in completing everyday tasks.