A lively exercise session run by sari-clad presenters of the Sri Om Healthy Living for Seniors Program woke Synod members from their late Saturday afternoon drowsiness and saw them shimmying, swaying, wiggling their hips and raising their hands.
The healthy living program is run in Blacktown by Sri Om and Grantham Uniting Church and has received funding from UnitingCare Ageing and the State Government.
Since 2007 it has helped older Indian and Sri Lankan people socialise with their peers and develop their strengths and abilities.
Synod members heard how the program plays a vital role in improving the quality of life of its day centre attendees. Many of these people came to Australia to assist their children with childminding but as the children have now grown up they feel redundant.
The program draws elderly people from Sri Lanka and India together in community ensuring they feel less isolated fearful about leaving their homes — a real fear due to assaults that have been taking place on public transport in their local areas.
Images from Synod can be found on Insights’ Facebook page.
