Exercise programs keeping residents at OMNI homes mobile

Residents maintaining independence through falls-prevention initiatives

February 8, 2010 -- Deron Hamel

Exercise programs and falls-prevention initiatives utilized at OMNI Health Care's 17 long-term care homes are helping to keep residents mobile and healthy, which in turn leads to enhanced quality of life.

Perhaps most importantly, residents are able to maintain independence through successes reaped through participation in these programs.

Physiotherapy teams are experts at helping people maintain independence, and OMNI homes are serviced by dedicated physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants who strive to help residents enhance their quality of life.

OMNI homes also ensure residents have access to state-of-the-art exercise and rehabilitative equipment to encourage participation.

Riverview Manor in Peterborough, for instance, has a new exercise bike with six resistance levels that residents enjoy using.

"(We are seeing participation from a) large variety of residents at more levels (of mobility)," says physiotherapist Gina Bunting, attesting to the equipment's success.

"We have some people who are assisted stands that are coming to the falls-prevention classes, right up to people who are high-level functioning and independent walkers, outdoors and indoors."

Making exercise programs fun has also been a successful measure for encouraging residents at West Lake Terrace to participate in the Picton home's falls-prevention program, says physiotherapy assistant Meredith Langman.

Residents, she says, enjoy using Thera-Bands and Ex N' Flex cycling machines for exercise. The home also uses a dancing program for residents with strong mobility.

The results of these initiatives speak for themselves.

"We keep stats every month and we try to decrease falls by five per cent every month, and so far it has been working," says Langman. "We are also having residents who never come to the program and now they're regulars who love to come."

The falls-prevention program at Pleasant Meadow Manor in Norwood has resulted in many residents being able to participate in outings, says restorative-care aide Kathy Herron.

In fact, four residents at the home who often use wheelchairs are now able to move in and out of the OMNI van during outings, she says.

With the falls-prevention program utilized at the home including more movement exercises and more balance training for people using mobility devices, residents are walking with greater confidence, she adds.

"Because of this program, (the residents') ability to walk a further distance (and) to step up into a doorway (is improved), which makes it more possible for them to go out to restaurants or back to their homes," says Herron.

What is your home doing as part of this year's falls-prevention program? If you have a story you would like to share, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

- With files from Michelle Strutzenberger

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

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