Healthy Ageing for Multicultural Communities

• “Seniors’ exercises in a minute” Workout Demonstration Video Series by Active Seniors Health Centre
• Resource Hub of Exercise Demonstration Video Resources on YouTube by Active Seniors Health Centre
• ‘Staying Active: Strength for Life’ Video Series (YouTube), showing how to do strength and balance exercises at home, by COTA SA Strength for Life and Preventative Health SA
• ‘7 Yoga Poses You Can Do in a Chair’ with step-by-step instructions and visuals by Healthline

• ‘Healthy Eating as you age: A guide for Older people living with Diabetes’ by NDSS and Diabetes Australia (includes meal plan and recipes)
• Healthy Eating to protect your heart, information about heart-healthy eating by Heart Foundation
• Healthy Eating over 60 information by HealthDirect
• Nutrition needs when you’re over 65 information by Better Health Channel (Victoria State Government)
• Eating Well information and resources by Preventative Health SA
• Australian Dietary Guidelines (various resources and information) by Eat for Health, and a translated flyer of ‘the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating’ available in English, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Dari, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Filipino, Punjabi, Tamil, Turkish and Vietnamese by NSW Government Multicultural Health Communication Service.

Better Health Coaching Service
by Preventative Health SA

The Better Health Coaching Service offers free, confidential telephone coaching to eligible South Australians aged 18-74 to support healthy lifestyle habits and reduce chronic disease risk. Qualified health professionals provide up to 10 coaching calls over six months, helping participants stay active and eat well.

• Information about Preventing Falls at Home by Better Health Channel (Victoria State Government)
• Benefits of Yoga for Seniors by Australian Seniors
• Information about and benefits of Tai Chi Ch’uan by Chinese Welfare Services of SA
• Physical Activity and Exercise Guidelines for older Australians (65+ years) by Australian Government
• ‘Choose Health: Be Active – A physical activity guide for older Australians’ by Australian Government and Sports Medicine Australia (includes information and recommendations, planning resources, example exercises with instructions and graphics and tips for healthy eating)
• Movement and Being Active resources and information by Preventative Health SA
• Your Health Checks and Screening information by Government of South Australia: Preventative Health SA

• Information about Older people and mental health by Health Direct
• MCCSA Mental Health Toolkit with further information and resources for mental health

• Grief Australia provides evidence-informed counselling, training, and research to support Australians dealing with grief and loss
• Dementia Support Australia offers 24/7 support, including a helpline and tailored programs, for people living with dementia, their families, and care providers
• Phoenix Australia provides information, resources, and support for older people affected by trauma and the aged care workers who support them
• Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) offers free, independent, and confidential advocacy services to older Australians receiving or seeking government-funded aged care

• Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Services: 1800 699 799 (24/7 support, if you know or care for someone with dementia who is experiencing behavioural changes)
• SA Adult Safeguarding Unit (Elder Abuse Prevention): 1800 372 310 (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri)
• Carer Gateway support for Carers: 1800 422 737 (8am-5pm, Mon-Fri)
• For a more extensive list of Helplines and Crisis Support Services, view the MCCSA Mental Health Toolkit

• Best brain training apps for seniors, a review of popular apps like CogniFit, BrainHQ, Lumosity, and more by Finder
• Seniors Card Daily Games by Seniors Online Victoria (including Crossword, Sudoku, Word Search and more)
• 11 brain stimulator activities to prevent memory loss by Australian Seniors

• U3A South Australia (Educational opportunities for people over 50 in various locations across South Australia)
• U3A Online (Virtual University: Online educational courses for people over 50)
• WEA SA (Workers’ Educational Association of South Australia) (Adult education courses and activities)
• Be Connected by Australian Government (free courses to help older Australians develop digital skills, confidence and online safety)

MCCSA’s free service connecting bilingual volunteers with socially isolated older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
Volunteers visit at least twice a month, providing companionship and support in the older person’s native language.

Benefits include:

• Reducing social isolation
• Preserving cultural connections
• Improving quality of life for those in aged care

Volunteers urgently needed for various languages:
Make a difference in someone’s life while using your language skills and connecting with your community. Volunteers of all ages are welcome and encouraged to apply!

Volunteering with MCCSA offers numerous benefits for healthy ageing, especially for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds:

• Stay active and engaged in your community
• Use and maintain your language skills
• Make new friends from diverse cultures
• Share your knowledge and experience
• Boost cognitive function and mental well-being
• Gain new skills and stay connected with society

Opportunities suitable for older adults include:

• Aged care social visitors (ACVVS)
• Art session helpers
• Bus drivers for community transport (regular valid driver’s license required)
• Event support
• Administration and project support

Flexible commitments available, from just one hour a fortnight.
Join our team of 100+ volunteers speaking over 30 languages.

MCCSA offers a variety of social support groups that promote healthy ageing for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including:

• Art Groups: Spanish-speaking, Russian, Korean, and Armenian groups
• English Classes
• Russian Social Support Group
• Arabic-speaking Women’s Group

Benefits for healthy ageing:

• Mental stimulation through learning new skills
• Physical activity to maintain health and mobility
• Social connections to combat loneliness
• Cultural engagement to preserve identity and traditions
• Stress reduction through enjoyable activities

Groups are free or low-cost and welcome new members.
Join a supportive community that celebrates diversity and promotes well-being for older adults.

• SAcommunity (South Australia’s free community information directory to find local services, community groups and volunteer opportunities)
• Activities for seniors in Adelaide by Australian Seniors

• Loneliness and isolation information by HealthDirect
• Connecting with others information and resources by Preventative Health SA, including information about connecting in nature, connecting with your community, volunteering and pets.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria: steps to protect yourself, resources and advice by Better Health Channel (Victoria State Government) including translated resources in 26 languages
• COVID-19 advice for older people and carers by Australian Government

• When and how to use masks: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public by World Health Organization – While masks are no longer mandatory in SA, they’re still recommended when you’re sick and need to go out, or when you’re around someone who may be contagious or unwell
• COVID-19 vaccines information, including up-to-date advice (2024) and booster eligibility information, by Australian Government
• COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring and reporting by Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to address vaccine concerns

• ‘Fears for culturally and linguistically diverse patients avoiding healthcare due to COVID-19’ article by Health Times urging patients from CALD communities not to neglect their health concerns due to fear of illness
• ‘The COVID-19 risk perceptions, health precautions, and emergency preparedness in older CALD adults in South Australia: A cross-sectional study’ by Flinders University. The study found that older CALD adults in South Australia had varying levels of COVID-19 risk perception and compliance with health precautions, with factors such as education level, cultural background, and age influencing their behaviours and emergency preparedness.