Active Communities
Green Prescription
About the Program
A Green Prescription is a health professional's written advice to a patient to be physically active as part of the patients health management. With it you can improve your health and feel better at the same time. A Green Prescription is not a substitute for medications.
How is it prescribed?
If the health professional thinks the patient could benefit from being more physically active they can refer them through the Green Prescription process. Alternatively if the patient thinks they might benefit from it they can ring Sport Southland on 0800 ACTIVE (228483) and we can help with the process from here.
How does it work?
A patient is prescribed 'green' by their health professional which is forwarded to the Green Prescription Coordinator. The Green Prescription Patient Support will then contact them within the week. They will help motivate, encourage and support the patient to make more healthy active lifestyle choices. They can help the patient to make physical activity choices that would be suitable for them as well as helping them find different opportunities in their community. The Green Prescription Patient Support regularly follows up with the patient to see how they are progressing and offer more assistance and support. The patient's progress on their path to an active lifestyle is reported back to the prescribing health professional.
How long does it go for?
A Green Prescription usually lasts for 3-4 months. After that time if the patient thinks they need ongoing support, they are encouraged to talk to their health professional for another Green Prescription.
It is then up to the patient to make the next step towards being active!
How can you help yourself?
Here are some ideas of ways you can help yourself become more active:
- Walking: is convenient, safe and cheap. Walk on your own or in a group. Walk to the shop or to work. Get off the bus a block or two before your normal stop and walk the rest of the way. Take the stairs instead of the lift.
- Swimming or aquafitness: are good for almost everyone especially people with arthritis
- Dancing: try something new & enjoyable
- Gardening: enjoy the rewards of activity, fresh air and fresh vegetables
- Vacuuming the floor, washing the car, mowing the lawns, gathering pipis are all good examples of activity
- How intense are the activities you do?
Green Prescription Success Stories
Billie Hunia
May 2008 saw Billie Hunia, a lovely lady in her mid seventies, sitting staring out the window, contemplating her future.
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Ray O'Brien
Ray O'Brien fell victim to a knee replacement 2 years ago. As Ray convalesced, he became more and more sedentary. This was especially tough for a father of nine, who had been physically active all his life.
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Pauline Stenning
Morbidly overweight, sedentary, tired and struggling to keep up with demands of teenage children was enough for Pauline Stenning to take action. Pauline joined a nutrition based programme and lost a staggering 20 kilograms towards a healthier weight.
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James Wilson
Eighteen months ago, James Wilson had been struggling with a medical condition that forced him to give up his passion of cycling on the open roads. He thought to himself that it was perhaps time to face facts that he was ageing, to take the easy way out and retire from being active as he might as well conserve the years and energy that he had left.
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Denis Drummond
In his mid forties, a sufferer of osteoarthritis and recovering from a recent hip replacement, Denis Drummond realised that things were not improving as fast as what he wished. Prior to his surgery, Denis worked as a truck driver, which meant a long, sedentary, and often demanding schedule. Often on call, Denis did not have a routine of physical activity, as the barriers seemed overwhelming.
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Mary Hamill - "Doing it for the kids"
Struggling with polysystic ovaries, weight gain and low fitness levels, Mary Hamill was feeling unwell, unfit and unmotivated. She not only wanted to feel healthier again, she wanted to be able to run around with her two children, aged 9 and 10, and enjoy a better quality of life with them. So when Mary approached her doctor in February of this year, she knew she needed help to start making changes in her lifestyle.
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Mavis Mason
Mavis Mason has been attending the Movement for Health exercise classes since August of last year. Run by Sport Southland, these classes are designed to improve balance and co-ordination and also aim to reduce the incidence of elderly falls. Since attending the classes, Mavis has progressed significantly in the areas of muscle strength, endurance and an improved sense of confidence in her own ability. Read on as Mavis writes about her experiences.
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For More Information
Call 0800 ACTIVE (228 483) and talk with our Green Prescription Team.
Or
See www.moh.govt.nz/greenprescription
