Organisations – YMCA - Musculoskeletal Health Australia (MHA)

Positive ageing

Helpful tips:

When developing a policy, vision or organisational statement re: your organisation working positively with older people, here are three examples from different levels which may be useful or could be adapted:

1. Warrnambool City Council Statement from Active Ageing Plan:

Vision – Council will value the role of older people and seek to provide opportunities for active participation in a broad range of community activities.
Action – Identify, recommend and promote opportunities for older residents to maximise their quality of life in the City of Warrnambool.

2. Shire of Indigo Ageing Well Strategy 2019-2023

A vision has been developed to guide Indigo Shire in its focus on ageing well over the next four years. It reflects Council’s strong commitment to supporting all Indigo Shire residents to live and age well within the community.

Our vision is:
‘Indigo Shire residents are connected and engaged with the community as they grow older; age is no barrier to inclusive, respectful and accessible participation.’

View the Indigo Ageing Well Strategy 2019-2023.

3. WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health

The strategy’s vision is a world in which everyone can live a long and healthy life. This world will be a place where functional ability is fostered across the life course and where older people experience equal rights and opportunities and can live lives free from age-based discrimination.

View the WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health.

Resources:

View the VAAP online PD modules, ‘Engaging older people in physical activity’
Council of the Ageing Victoria (COTA)
COTA ‘Challenging Ageism’ booklet
Seniors Online
National Ageing Research Institute
Healthy Ageing Network
WHO Active Ageing resources

A ‘fair go’ for all

Helpful tips:

A written policy, vision or organisational statement should clearly define to which groups of people the statement applies, who in the organisation should manage such matters and how they should be managed.
Inform staff about the strategies outlined in the VAAP ‘Engaging under-represented groups of older adults in organised physical activity’ document.
All staff are aware of the agreed actions within the organisation to promote the inclusion of people experiencing social or financial disadvantage/hardship.
Check the availability of any local council community buses to assist with transport.
Other ways of reducing the cost of your activities might be:
- running a variety of physical activities, some of which have no or minimal costs (e.g. have a no-cost Heart Foundation walking group as one of your activities)
- asking local businesses to sponsor a number of older people (without identifying individuals)
- offering cheaper prices in off-peak periods
- offering discounts for concession card holders.

Resources:

Participant recruitment pathways

Helpful tips:

As a starting point, your local council will most likely have a list of local organisations that work with older people.
Visit local organisations that work with older people and inform them about what your organisation offers.
Invite staff and/or their older clients from local organisations to your organisation so they have an understanding of what’s involved.
Other local organisations may have successful arrangements in place to facilitate the engagement of older people into their programs.
Current older participants might be aware of other local organisations that may wish to assist their clients into physical activity opportunities.
Inform staff about the strategies outlined in the VAAP ‘Engaging under-represented groups of older adults in organised physical activity’ document.
Assessment teams, community leaders and GPs may act as points of referral to physical activity programs for socially isolated and disadvantaged participants.
Intentionally building links with community groups and support agencies which are in contact with socially disadvantaged older people can facilitate program awareness and attendance.

Resources:

VAAP document ‘Transition pathways – Key elements to maximise the sustainability of exercise’
View the VAAP resources around ‘Building successful partnerships to promote physical activity among older people’

Comfortable and safe venues

Resources:

A venue checklist should cover aspects such as physical access, seating, lighting, privacy, temperature control, security, availability of toilets, suitability and safety of floor coverings, etc.
List of requirements for physical accessibility.
Sport and Recreation Victoria: Overview of Universal Design
Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (in Ireland): Building for Everyone
Community Travel Training

Equipment and storage

Helpful tips:

Be guided by equipment manufacturers’ guidelines as to the frequency of equipment safety and quality checks and maintenance, and have clear roles and responsibilities around this process.

Change rooms

Helpful tips:

Consider other venue options if the change-room facilities are not adequate, or inquire about the possibility of necessary improvements being undertaken (e.g. in local council-run facility).
A venue checklist should cover aspects such as physical access, seating, lighting, privacy, temperature control, security, availability of toilets, suitability and safety of floor coverings, etc.

Resources:

List of requirements for physical accessibility

Risk management

Helpful tips:

Risk categories that might be covered in a risk management plan might include strategic/planning; social/political, demand management; duty of care to clients; financial/budgetary; operational; physical assets/infrastructure; personnel; compliance/governance.
Steps in a risk management process include identifying risks; analysing the likelihood and potential consequences of risk; evaluating the risks; treating the risks and then ongoing monitoring and reviewing of risks and treatment strategies.

Resources:

Staff/Volunteer development

Helpful tips:

Involve older people themselves in your staff/volunteer training and induction re: working with older people. Some of the older people in your organisation would be valuable in passing on useful advice from their own and others’ experiences.
Inform staff/volunteers about other issues that may become apparent when dealing with older people; e.g. elder abuse, financial hardship.
Inform staff/volunteers about the strategies outlined in the VAAP ‘Engaging under-represented groups of older adults in organised physical activity’ document.
Identifying skill gaps and arranging training and/or support to improve the competencies of leaders to adapt programs to meet the social, cultural, behavioural and health needs of social disadvantaged participants.
Incorporating cultural competency and disability inclusion in training and professional development can be valuable.