Page 33 - RPA May 2020

HEALTH EXERCISE 31
“And if an individual can tolerate some higher levels of effort, then that’s encouraged as well because a high level of effort does give a bigger bang for your buck.”
Putting it into practice, he recommends “doing some short walks” or “some body-weighted resistance” such as squats, lunges, heel raises and push-ups.
“Recent research [has] shown a strong correlation between push-up capacity and health and wellbeing,” he said.
Ms Lowe suggests a good way to get started is with a gentle routine, such as stretching, yoga, walking, swimming or bowls.
“Another great tip is to encourage seniors to engage an exercise buddy to not only keep them on track but keep an eye out for each other as well,” she said.
Considering that, as Dr Sostaric puts it, “consistency is king” when it comes to exercise and the health benefits associated with it, there’s certainly no better way to stay motivated with exercise then when you are accountable to someone.
Mr Vockins suggests other practical ways to incorporate physical activity into daily routine
(“all great ways to exercise if it’s too daunting stepping into a gym”):
• Parking further away from your destination.
• Mowing the yard.
• Walking up and down stairs.
• Taking the grandchildren to a park or for a swim
– “the pool is a great way for elderly individuals to exercise”.
Raising awareness in retail
Ms Lowe suggests a good way to raise awareness of the importance of exercise for older adults is by engaging in community initiatives such as “holding heart-health check days, diabetes expos and asthma awareness weeks” along with encouraging community events.
She gives the examples of The Colour Run, Jump Rope for Heart, and Walk to School Day.
“[These] are a great way to interact with customers and not only discuss their health but also ways they can improve [it] by adding exercise into their daily routine,” she said.
“Think about how your pharmacy [can] get involved and sponsor these great initiatives.”
Ms Van Leeuwen says that pharmacy assistants “play an important role in educating people about the benefits of physical activity and exercise”.
“In terms of guiding older adults in commencing exercise, the best advice would be to speak to their GP or a trained health professional who specialises in this area, such as a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist,” she said.
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For more information about the physical activity recommendations from the Department of Health, visit: health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/ phd-physical-choose-health
RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAR 2020