Partnership with Leamington Mennonite Home for the Mobility Matters Checkup Project

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Mariel Konrad, RN, BScN - Director of Nursing Care & Seniors Services
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The Leamington Mennonite Home Retirement residents and community seniors have been benefiting from a partnership with the VON Senior Maintaining Active Roles Together (SMART) Exercise & Fall Prevention Program. 
We have had the advantage of having two of our staff undergo specialized training and certification through the VON SMART Program. This has enabled our exercise program to be exceptional for our seniors’ physical needs.
We have been running this program for two years now with our two certified staff and have observed the positive changes in residents’ overall mobility.
Recently, our Home was invited to participate in a Mobility Matters Checkup Pilot Project that evaluates our senior’s mobility, leg strength, balance and endurance. This type of project is invaluable for all seniors living in a Retirement Home and Seniors Living Community for many reasons, such as to name a few:

• Provides a base marker for seniors’ activity
• Measures quality improvement
• Seniors receive a written record of their successes and challenges
• Provides encouragement and motivation for seniors to continue attending
• Continued follow–up evaluations every 4 to 6 months

Partnership with the VON SMART Program has given immeasurable insight for our staff, families, and our seniors into the benefits of participating in an exercise program.  Our seniors have recognized improvement in their mobility, strength, balance, flexibility and stamina since starting the program.  As one resident, Anita stated, “Overall after this time of exercise, I feel energized and that I have had a good workout. I regained use of my shoulders and have less pain now.”  For all our residents and seniors in our community, the exercise program has been empowering and motivating for them to continue to attend and the importance of preventing falls.  It has also encouraged others who have seen the benefits to join.  We hope to continue this invaluable partnership for many years to come.

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