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PHYSIOTHERAPY

Currently Inglewood has one full-time Physiotherapist for the 93 residents in the multi-level care wing (ECU and SCU). Residents of the Lodge and Manor can access private treatments from a contract therapist by referral.

Residents entering our multi-level care area are seen by physiotherapy for an initial assessment, which gives us a baseline measurement of their abilities. The assessment includes ability to stand and move from a chair to the bed or toilet (transfer), ability to walk, with or without assistance, muscle strength, range of motion, pain, balance, and ability to move their wheelchair. With this information, the therapist determines the best way to maintain the resident’s abilities. The following is a list of programs currently offered for our residents, designed to meet their unique needs:

		Walking Program:     Residents who are able to walk with someone assisting them are placed on the program, to ensure that they are given an opportunity to walk at least once per day. The residents are walked by their Care Aide, Nurse, or a member of the Recreation Department. Physiotherapy reassess the resident any time there is a change in their ability to walk.
		Fitness Circuit:    This group strengthening program was designed based on the latest research in strength training. It is run by the Physiotherapist and Recreation Therapist, with the help of volunteers. Residents in the program perform strengthening exercises with weights. Since the program began, the participants have seen an impressive increase in their strength and their abilities to walk and transfer.
		Fitness Plus:      A group program run by the Physiotherapist and Recreation Therapist for residents in the Special Care Unit who are primarily using a wheelchair, but are able to walk with assistance. The program begins with simple range of motion, stretching and strengthening, and ends with assisted walking.
		Individualized programs:     Set up by the physiotherapist based on results of the assessment. The programs are written up and taught to Care Aides, Private Attendants or family members.

Private Physiotherapy treatments are primarily short term, to set up programs, or to treat acute problems. Residents with a recent stroke, chest condition such as pneumonia or bronchitis, hip replacement, or fractures will be seen for private sessions until they are able to join an appropriate group, or have improved to the maximum of their abilities.

In addition to assessments and programs, the Physiotherapist acts as a consultant on numerous teams in the facility. These teams include the Professional Advisory Team, Occupational Health and Safety Team, Strategic and Corporate Management Team, and the Therapy Services Team (formerly Rehabilitation Practices Team). Physiotherapy is also in the process of developing a Falls Prevention Program, Restraint Reduction Team, and Wound Care Team.

Currently Physiotherapy, together with Occupational and Recreation Therapies, is embarking on an exciting quality improvement program. We will be examining current programs and making changes to improve the services we offer. Stay tuned for updates in this exciting process.

Continuing Education

Inglewood Care Centre strongly supports staff upgrading and continuing education. In January, our physiotherapist took advantage of this support and attended an intensive two-day course on "Osteoporosis: Clinical Skills for Physiotherapists" at UBC. Presented by Barbara Beatty, a recognized expert in this field, the course provided an excellent overview of the disease process and the latest in research and treatment.

Physiotherapists play a very active role in assisting clients to gain an optimal level of function following the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Therapists can be involved in many ways:

		Pain management programs
		Prescription of bone-density-building exercise
		Education on the do’s and don’ts of osteoporosis
		Prescription of back supports and other assistive devices such as walkers, raised toilet seats, commodes, bathing aids
		Treatment of muscle imbalances, which, untreated, create the common postural changes seen in osteoporosis
		Instruction in core stability exercises to improve muscular support for the spine

The physiotherapy team plans to develop an osteoporosis program here at Inglewood, based on the material presented in the course. Watch the website for further updates on the program.

For more information on physiotherapy and osteoporosis, please contact physiotherapist Kim Jensen at Inglewood.

The results are in!

Over the past three months, seven residents of our Extended Care Unit have been participating in an exciting new exercise program with Recreation and Physiotherapy.

We tested the strength and functional abilities of our residents at the start of the program. The participants then followed an individualized progressive strengthening program, three times per week. At the end of three months, we tested their strength and abilities again. The results were amazing.

On average, strength increased by 25% for legs and 20% for arms. For these wheelchair-dependent residents, this improvement in strength means more independence with standing up from the wheelchair, walking short distances, and the ability to do more for themselves.

Here’s a sample of what the residents have to say: "I’m walking the best I have in years!"; "I feel so much better. I have more energy and it’s so much easier to get around in my chair."

The average age in the program? 85. Just goes to show you, you’re never too old to exercise – and see results! The program will continue, and we’ll be expanding it to include more of our residents.