Read what people are saying about Stepping On:
Program Attendees
Kate B
A fantastic in-depth, tried and tested, continually improving program. Very practical and engaging.
Gillian H
Great course-get involved!
Willoughby, Sydney North Shore Program Attendee
I commend you and your department on the excellent, helpful Stepping On program run by your Occupational Therapists and allied health professionals. I attended all 7 sessions of the program run at Willoughby Uniting Church, as did almost all the other participants. Almost 100% attendance at every session is a great indicator of its effectiveness, I think. Without exception we all improved our strength and balance and we received many valuable resources enabling us to care for ourselves into the future. As a preventative health measure, this program is 100% successful. All of us had previous been injured from falls – I have had 2 falls prior to this program, both resulting in fractures and a long time to heal. It is unlikely any of us will fall again. Thank you for such an excellent service.
I do hope this valuable community program will continue long into the future.
I am very grateful.
Margaret – Sydney North Shore
Today, by chance, I was reminded of how the Stepping On course I attended after my wrist fracture contributed to my recovery and greater safety generally.
It was a great program and delivered in an excellent way. The topics were engaging, the exercises very useful and the staff encouraging. I noticed how other attendees also improved greatly in confidence, mobility and strength while on my course.
Before retirement I led an organisation of 120 staff responsible for providing information and research training to our parent organisation of 90,000 people. I’ve assessed many, many courses. I’d have to say the Stepping On course I attended at RNSH was among the very best courses I’ve seen in terms of attendee experience and achievement of its purpose.
At the time, though I hardly knew it, I was lacking in confidence and so inhibited from exercising or even walking in the street except when absolutely necessary. The course imparted the knowledge and skills to enable me to recover confidence and to be safe. It also improved my balance and strength. I am still doing the exercises I learned and I have joined a gym for weights training, age appropriate classes and swimming.
I have had a great return on investment for the time I spent attending Stepping On. I think that translates into reduced spending by RNSH on me for health and medical emergencies. I have had no more falls or fractures since attending.
I also explain to other people, in my generation and older, things I learned on the course when I see them doing things that could affect their safety: how to choose safer shoes, how to get out of a chair safely, little exercises to strengthen specific muscles to improve balance. So there is a ripple effect from my experience on the course and a deeper value the course providers would not be aware of.
When you have young children and you have a problem you think you are the only one with that problem, and you go to mothers/fathers group and find there are many more people with that problem.
You feel better for that.
In this same way, on the first day of a Stepping On programme you are introduced to other group members. Quickly you find out their story, their experiences with falls and their resulting lack of confidence. Straight away you know you are not alone.
You feel better for that.
When the Stepping on group leader tells you that you have fallen because you have weak muscles, and that muscles start to deteriorate at a certain age, then tells you that you can turn that situation around, do your exercises and improve,
You feel better for that.
When the stepping on group leader tells you that your balance deteriorates from an even younger age, and you can turn that around by doing your exercises
You feel better for that.
When you come out of your home and possible loneliness and isolation, and possibly little routine, to meet some nice people from your area on a regular basis for 7 weeks, possibly starting new social connections,
You feel better for that.
So before you do any regular exercise tasks at all, your confidence, and feeling of wellbeing has improved already.
You have already achieved so much from the programme, because you feel better, feel more confident, able to take control of your future, and connect with your community.
Mary
“Engagement is a really big part of being happy for me.
I love to get out visit friends get on the bus without worrying about Falling ”
Now after attending Stepping On I have my Spring back in my step
I used to stay at home and feel sad.”
Margaret “Stepping On focuses on what you can do rather on what you cant”
It made me feel positive again”
Peter “Main Thing is I have Hope now”
It is common sense but you don’t analyse it until you need it. You take it for granted when you are younger
See Magie’s story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FRGVh96VJPk