Staying Active - Anglicare Chesalon Nowra

The weekly exercise program is run by both the Physio & OT with assistance from a lifestyle & physio aid

An active lifestyle can help build and maintain muscle strength, healthy bones, joints and improve strength, balance and mobility for residents. The benefits of participating in regular exercise programs go far beyond improving physical health. Exercising can also be a fun and social time and can improve mental alertness, mood and overall wellbeing. Low physical activity provides a number of risk factors for residents including the potential for falls and injuries, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. Chesalon Nowra is located in the NSW south coast an Anglicare residential aged care facility and is home to 64 residents. Karen Johnson, Care Manager has shared their new initiative which aims to strengthen residents upper and lower limbs to assist with safe mobilisation, minimise falls and subsequent injuries whilst bringing residents together in a fun and social way.

Anglicare Chesalon Nowra have recently introduced a weekly exercise program which is held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 11:15am to 12:00pm in the dining room for residents within both the general beds and secure dementia unit. The program is run by the Physiotherapist and the Occupational Therapist with assistance from a lifestyle and physio aid. The program focuses mostly on upper body exercises with some seated lower body exercises also undertaken. Choosing a variety of activities and exercises that residents find interesting for example lawn balls was an important factor in ensuring participation and making exercising an enjoyable experience for residents. The exercises don’t need to be complex with the majority of movements completed whilst sitting in the chair including raising arms, moving fingers, rolling balls, bending, kicking balls and leg stretches. Whilst the exercise program is voluntary residents are encouraged to participate, particularly those who have recently had a fall or have a high falls risk. Family and visitors are also welcome to partake in the activities and provides a happy social time for all involved.

The program strengthens residents upper & lower limbs to assist with safe mobilisation

A number of benefits have been observed since the implementation of the exercise program including;

-          Helps with cognition & alertness

-          Muscle strength & tone

-          Social skills

-          Fun

-          Motivation

-          Residents interact and are happy & smiling

-          Families join in

-          Prevents deconditioning

-          Reduces joint stiffness

-          Relaxation – i.e. breathing etc.

The exercise program has also assisted in minimising falls within both the general and dementia units. A pleasing downward trend is also evident in injuries resulting from falls with the overall result now performing below the QPS industry benchmark as demonstrated by the trend graph below.

Figure 1: Falls With Injury – General – Trend Graph;

The exercise program will continue to be provided for residents at Anglicare Chesalon Nowra with a huge difference noted since the implementation. The program has not only been successful in reducing falls and injuries but has also been instrumental in improving social interactions, residents overall wellbeing and quality of life.

Residents participate in a variety of fun upper body & seated lower body exercises. The exercises and activities bring residents together and provides a social and fun time for all!

Karen Johnson, Care Manager