Active living for seniors doesn't take 'fancy bells and whistles'

Seniors at Beach Grove Home in Charlottetown are getting more active through a partnership between the home and go!PEI, a community-based healthy living program.

Beach Grove Home administrator Andrew MacDougall said part of the success of the program lies in its simplicity.

"You don't need, necessarily, all these fancy bells and whistles for that kind of stuff," said MacDougall.

"This is just about simplicity and working it into what we're already doing and making subtle shifts in how we provide care, and how we interact with residents."

Staff, volunteers and visitors all taking responsibility

The program involves everyone in the home - staff, volunteers and visitors - who are all encouraged to participate in physical activity with the residents. Helping the seniors become more active becomes everyone's responsibility.

We think there's ahumongouspotential.- Andrew MacDougall

"We think there's a humongous potential if we can get staff from all our departments and have our wonderful volunteers and family in particular involved in this initiative to try to encourage wellness through increased physical activity," said MacDougall.

The equipment involved is kept simple, including a stationary exercise cart stocked with equipment, such as blocks and balls, to help residents work on their dexterity. Residents are encouraged to walk more or propel themselves in their wheelchairs. MacDougall said it all came together at a minimal cost.

The program invites residents to fill out goal sheets for physical activity.

MacDougall said in just a few months, residents are getting into the habit of using the cart, and challenging one another to be more physically active.

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