PEOPLE who care for disabled or elderly family or friends have learnt all about the importance of caring for themselves, through an education and fitness program aimed at boosting their mental and physical fitness – and you can join them next month if you’d like to.
A group of eight carers embarked on the eight-week pilot program which featured 90-minute sessions of exercise, relaxation and education.
Participants are also provided with a home exercise program and key strategies to achieve peak mental and physical performance.
The Boost program was designed and implemented as a joint initiative of Port Macquarie Base Hospital’s physiotherapy department and mental health unit.
Physiotherapy manager Anthony Best and mental health social worker Anitta Kocijan took the first group through their paces, being joined by guest health professionals who spoke on a range of topics relevant to carers including stress management and depression, sleeping better, relaxation, healthy eating, medication, safe manual handling and respite and carer support.
The Boost program includes a booster session in three months’ time and follow-up support for six months.
Participants have given the program a big thumbs up and a second program will now start on 6 August as a result.
Interested carers can contact social worker Anita Kocijan on email anitta.kocijan@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au or at Port Macquarie Base Hospital on 5524 2000.
