At the invitation of the Department of Corrections, Age Concern has taken on a new challenge for Steady As You Go supremo Ann Dalziel to establish an exercise class for the older inmates at Rimutuka Prison in Trentham.
Ann and Age Concern have established over 40 falls prevention exercise classes around the Wellington Region. These classes are designed to improve strength and balance and help prevent a fall by improving balance and leg strength, flexibility, general fitness and wellbeing. The classes are also promoted as a great way to meet new people – but maybe not in this case.
Usually, the classes are initially established by Ann, but the aim is to get one of the social workers at the prison to be the Peer Leader after 10 weeks so that the group becomes self-supporting.
Exercise and physical activity are important for all ages but more particularly in older age groups as balance becomes a problem and falls can cause more serious injuries. The programme at Rimutuka Prison is for the older members of that community.
Ann says going to prison is quite a different experience to the usual programme she follows in establishing a new class. She says it’s an eerie feeling to have several doors slam behind you when you first enter the establishment.
Then there are a few rules that are new to her, like not wearing certain colours as they are associated with the different gangs that some of the inmates might belong to.
In a recent article, Ann commented “I enjoy my job and find it interesting. Dealing with people, especially with Steady As You Go, is great. Each group is unique and seems to represent the area they live in.” This new group is proving to be a little more unique than others.
The most important thing about the work, Ann says, is to have a great sense of humour and look for the lighter and brighter side of life – even on the inside.