Movin', Shakin' and Makin' at Woodlands Lodge UPA

Woodlands Lodge is a 72 bed facility operated by the United Protestant's Association and is located in the Hunter Valley. Within the 72 beds there is a 14 bed specific dementia unit. The facility is predominantly low care. In this article Team Leader, Jo Drummond and Activities Officer, Cheryl Owens talk about some exciting lifestyle developments.

Earlier this year the Federal Government provided funding to the Hunter Urban Division of General Practice (GP Access) as part of an Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI) to improve primary care for aged care residents. Under the ACAI, allied health professionals may provide clinical services to residents in RACFs either on an individual or a group basis. Individual services may include one-on-one services such as podiatry.

In partnership with the Heart Foundation, GP Access conducted a needs assessment and decided to fund the Heart Foundation's Heartmoves program for aged care facilities that were willing to participate. Seventeen facilities in the Hunter Valley decided to participate, one of which was UPA's Woodlands Lodge. Heartmoves leaders are specifically trained, accredited and licensed to deliver exercise programs that target the needs and circumstances of the participants. Heartmoves is a gentle physical activity program designed to be safe for people with stable long term health conditions and is also suitable for anyone who hasn't exercised in a while and is ideal for falls prevention. The trial project has been running for a period of 14 weeks.

The main objectives of the program are to: improve body function; increase circulation; increase body movement; increase lower limb strength, enhance emotional well being and; above all, have fun. Upbeat music is used to create a fun like atmosphere and to entice residents to join in. Each body part is exercised from top to toe and a range of props such as pom poms, balls, bean bags, and giant elastic bands are used to add colour and variety as well as enhance the effectiveness of the exercises.

At Woodlands, the program is voluntary but in the 14 week trial period, the participation rate has climbed to nearly 50% of all residents. Each participant is now acquiring their own props and it is expected that within a short period of time everyone will have their own set of exercise props. The success of the program is being discussed with the wider community and a service club is currently considering buying T-Shirts for the participants.

Resident enjoying the heartmoves program

Whist it is still too early to fully evaluate the impact of the program the facility has noticed a dramatic reduction in falls since the introduction of the program.

Introduction of the Heartmoves program with falls dropping in the following quarter. Whilst the reason for the decrease in falls is multi factorial it is considered that the Heartmoves program played a significant role in the reduction.

The Heartmoves Program Manager Dr. Amanda Nagle has indicated that the program has been so successful in the Hunter Valley that nine other facilities are being offered Heartmoves by GP Access.

If you would like further information on the Heartmoves program in Residential Aged Care facilities please contact Amanda Nagle, Amanda.Nagle@heartfoundation.org.au

Having done a bit of movin' and shakin' Woodlands has also embarked on another interesting project designed to enhance resident lifestyle. In consultation with the local community based Men's Shed, Woodlands has introduced its very own Men's Shed, a place where the male residents can come together side by side and support each other. The main objectives of this project are: alleviate isolation; reduce anxiety; increase physical exercise and generate more social interaction among male residents. As Activities Officer Cheryl Collins explains, whenever you ask a female resident what her husband did at home, it was always "pottering around the shed" and so why take this joy away in the aged care setting.

In setting up the Men's Shed, advice and support was sought from the local Community based Men's Shed and jobs are fed from this to the Woodlands Men's Shed. The residents get to pick and choose what they like to do but things that they have made include tea pot stands and letter boxes. Four residents have been introduced to the world of computers and for the sport's minded there is a full size pool table and a darts board. Gardening is also on the agenda for future activities.

Activities Officer Cheryl Owens with David Craig , Amanda Burgess, Chris King, David Pollard at the opening of the Men's Shed.

Woodland Residents Rex Gray, William McDonald, William "Cookie" Cook contemplate their work for the day.