Life is all about balance for Tallai’s Giulia

Tallai’s Giulia Greenall led a well-balanced life until a simple trip at home earlier this year threw her off kilter.

“I’m an active 72-year-old and I feel as young as I ever have, but I knew I needed to get back to fitness after babysitting my four grandchildren, where exercise became less of a priority.

“I knew it was time to talk to my GP about getting on an exercise program suited to my needs, and that’s how I learned about the I Am Not Frail program,” she said.

Then fate stepped in to hurry matters along.

“Shortly after seeing the doctor, I was rushing to go to lunch, and I tripped over a quilt that I hadn’t tucked in far enough at the end of the bed, and down I went,” Giulia said.

“I took the fall on my knees, and even though I threw ice packs on both straight away, they bruised and swelled, and my balance and gait were thrown right out; it was a bit of a wake-up call.

“So, I had literally stumbled into the I Am Not Frail program at just the right time,” she said.

An initiative of the Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN), I Am Not Frail offers three programs with ready access to physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, dietitians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. The focus is on tailoring exercises, diet and other factors to target any existing restrictions and strength losses so each individual can reach their goal. People 65 years or older or over 55 First Nations peoples simply need a referral from their doctor indicating they show just one sign of frailty. For pensioners or people on a health care card, the program is free.

According to the Clinical Director of the GCPHN Turning Pain into Gain and Frailty Care in the Community programs and PainWISE Managing director Joyce McSwan it’s all about heading frailty off at the pass.

“The programs are designed to keep people in the community doing the things they want to do for as long as possible,” Joyce said.

“They’ve been developed in response to the fact that about a quarter of Gold Coasters over the age of 70 are frail.

“That means they might often feel tired or weak, have trouble walking short distances or up 10 stairs without help, have major illnesses or they might have unintentionally lost weight.

“People with only one sign of frailty lose their ability to bounce back from illness or an accident and that’s something Giulia was keen to avoid,” she said.

Giulia said she didn’t expect the whole-of-body and mind health benefits the programs deliver.

“It’s all very social working with the instructors and doing the group circuit work with likeminded people just wanting to stay fit and healthy,” she said.

“I’d never really been in a structured exercise program before, but at Temple Gym at Varsity Lakes I started with some light weights for pendulum swings to help rotate my shoulders.

“I also did a bit of indoor rowing and cycling and a few other low impact exercises that gave me a much better understanding of the importance of balance and mobility.

“I also developed a bit more upper body strength, which was a bonus, but the big thing I found was if you lose your balance, you can get it back, it doesn’t have to go forever.”

A younger Giulia had worked as a Jill of all trades, beginning in a bank, as assistant manager in a Paul Ramsay company, as a production control clerk in an electrical firm, waitressing and working in a New Zealand government printing office.

Back in Australia she became a grazier’s wife for a while and worked as “Girl Friday” to 1980s Australian rocker James Freud. But life in retirement saw Giulia take up more sedentary pursuits.

“I spend a lot of my time these days watching TV and researching my ancestors which I enjoy enormously, doing all that investigative stuff on sites like Trove, and uncovering a lot of family mysteries.

“But my bedroom tumble was certainly a blessing in disguise in that I have a much greater understanding of the importance of keeping both the mind and body active to keep frailty from creeping in, and I know it’s up to me to keep it going.

“I’m also encouraging a couple of my neighbours to get onboard for the exercise advantages and social interaction; I’d recommend it to anyone,” she said.

The Gold Coast Primary Health Network’s I Am Not Frail programs comprise the Frailty Care in the Community Program, The Bond University Allied Health Interprofessional Health Lifestyle Program and the Mungulli Yarn and Walk Program.

Full details on the I Am Not Frail program can be found here.