Enhancing the Health and Wellbeing of Older Women through the Bankstown OWN Wellness Centre

This report documents the outcome of an evaluation of the ways in which health and wellbeing of older women may be enhanced through programmes conducted through the Bankstown OWN Wellness Centre. Women currently attending the Bankstown Wellness Centre were surveyed in May-June 2016, and those joining the Centre were surveyed when they joined during 2016-2017. Current members, as at June 2016, were surveyed again, in June 2017 as part of an evaluation programme designed to assess the impact of attendance at the Centre on the health and wellbeing of older women. The Bankstown Wellness Centre serves a vulnerable population within Australian and South West Sydney. Vulnerability is known to be associated with relatively poor health status, particularly for older women. Yet, the evidence of this analysis shows that the women who participate in the Bankstown Wellness Centre are at least equal to or have better health and wellbeing than the average Australian population of their age. Further, they have maintained that position over the past year. For this sample of women, wellbeing as measured by the WHO-5 wellbeing scale was relatively high. Additionally, they showed significant improvement over the past year. Life satisfaction, measured for the first time in 2017, was also high. General mood, as assessed by the Matthey General Mood Question, remained stable over the year. Health status remained stable over the year, as did the number of falls experienced, hospital admissions, and frequency of GP visits. Members reported improved levels of regular exercise; although this do not show measurable outcomes in reduced falls and use of medical services within the same period, benefit is evident in the stability of these factors in this older sample of women. Comments by the women reinforced evidence that the programme has a real value for them in providing not only exercise, but also social connection and support during times of stress or crisis (such as when a close family member dies). For some, it provided time and space to engage with other women, be themselves, and escape the tedium or difficulties of their home lives. The importance of social connection in both motivating participation in exercise and in moderating the negative impacts of advancing age is now beyond doubt.