Introduction

The science is now very clear that strength and mobility training can be very effective, even for the very frail and elderly.  Equally clear is the government’s realization (both in Canada and the US) of the huge cost of supporting a large population of immobile people.  These two facts have led to the recognition that active mobilization should, and will be enabled whenever possible.

The hurdles to bringing strength and mobility training to eldercare have been two fold.  First, changing the paradigm of immobility that currently exists, and second the lack of equipment that allows safe training – safe for both the senior and the care giver. 

NeuroGym Technologies manufactures a unique line of mobility training equipment that targets and improves the underlying motor skills critical for day to day functions such as transfers, standing and walking. Improving an individual's ability to transfer, for example, can lead to more independence and dignity by enabling a resident to possibly toilet themselves again - we have seen this happen at several homes.  As well, these kinds of outcomes are perfectly in line with the new MDS funding models being phased in both the US and Canada.

An independent news station produced a special on this equipment.  Below is a short except from that show.

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Bungee Mobility Trainer
Sit-to-Stand Trainer
Pendulum Stepper

Resident incontinence represents a major challenge for the Long Term Care (LTC) industry.   It obviously negatively impacts the residents themselves on many levels, but also has a significant economic impact on the service provider both in terms of support care required and direct expense costs.  This application note discusses how this issue can be addressed with the Sit-to-Stand Trainer.

New Application Note: “Functional Incontinence – Addressing the Causative Factors”

From Subsidizing Immobility to Paying for Mobility

Governments in both Canada and the US now realize that it is much more expensive to subsidize immobility in elder care, than to pay for enabling mobility. Enabling mobility in those who cannot move,  and as important,  preventing decline in mobility for those who can move.  As a result, governments on both sides of the border are implementing programs that pay for improvements in resident mobility. Significant improvements in mobility can be realized through specific mobility training with the appropriate equipment and methodology.
                            
The cost of immobility results from both increased direct health care costs, and the costs associated with employee turn over and low moral. In long term care, one bed sore costs about $70,000 US.  This amount is small compared to the cost of the many medical conditions that are worsened by immobility – including depression. Health care workers in the past have attempted to physically lift residents.  Most homes have now been forced to introduce “no manual lift” policies due to lift-associated injuries. The industry has subsidized this mobility problem by the purchasing expensive lift machines, which does little to improve basic health and in many cases makes the situation worse.

We have seen the difference mobility training equipment has made in both the lives of seniors.  Within 4-6 weeks (three times per week) of sit-to-stand training on our Sit-to-Stand machine, seniors begin to see dramatic increases in lower extremity strength and may regain the ability to transfer themselves.  We have seen individuals improve transfers enough to toilette themselves gain.  At very least they gain enough strength to make the transfer much easier for the caregiver.  As seniors begin to become more active, other things improve such as bed sores, overall health and most importantly mental attitude – they see they are improving!

Imagine a home where individuals are safely walking, kicking and catching balls or dancing (all excellent balance and mobility training opportunities). Residents begin to experience improvement they never dreamed possible and the success becomes infectious.  As a resident’s physical and mental health improves, working conditions improve and costs plummet.

Click to play short application video
Bungee Mobility Trainer
Sit-to-Stand Trainer
Pendulum Stepper
Application Note:  NeuroGym Technologies and RAI MDS 2.0 in Long Term Care:  Enhancing Mobility and Tracking Improvement

Operation of the equipment by non-clinical personnel

This equipment can be utilized by non-clinical personnel within the program groups including restorative care and recreation.  Mobility training in the recreation programs before an individual hits the “rehabilitation radar” has both financial and quality of life benefits.  Enabling a resident to stand and play a game of Wii bowling while being supported in a Bungee Mobility Trainer, has huge psychological benefits as well as being great for core strengthening, balance training and fall prevention.

Click to play short application video
Bungee Mobility Trainer
Sit-to-Stand Trainer
Pendulum Stepper

Addressing the Biggest Problem in Eldercare

According to Nursing Home magazine, two of the top 3 problems plaguing the North American long term care industry are employee moral and employee turnover.

A critical part of the job for front line workers is transferring residents.  This is a challenge because residents are afraid to try to move themselves, and the physical work required to move them can be daunting and time consuming.  Due to their immobility, residents are understandably depressed because they have lost the ability to move and the dignity that goes with that. It is becoming more difficult for front line workers to work in an environment where their residents only get worse.

The industry is addressing the symptomatic human resource issue rather than address a much more basic problem - resident immobility.   Up until now addressing the mobility problem has been impossible because equipment that provides safe mobility training did not exist or was not practical.

As front line workers run these mobility training programs, they are giving hope to the residents and their jobs become less difficult and more rewarding because many residents can begin moving themselves. A care givers day is now resident activities including waltzing, kicking soccer balls, playing balloon badminton, just to name a few.

Click to play short application video
Click here for product overview
 

The webinar discusses the paradigm shift that is occurring in elder - a move from subsidizing immobility to paying for mobility. The webinar illustrates how the equipment and methodology targets and improves the underlying motor skills critical for day to day functions such as transfers, standing and walking. Improving an individual's ability to transfer, for example, can lead to more independence and dignity by potentially enabling a resident to toilet themselves again. At a very minimum this kind of training will make transfers more safe for caregivers and residents.

This equipment can be utilized by personnel within the program groups including restorative care and recreation, in addition to the rehabilitation team. Mobility training in the recreation programs before an individual hits the “rehabilitation radar” has both financial and quality of life benefits. Enabling a resident to stand and play a game of Wii bowling while being supported in a Bungee Mobility Trainer, has huge psychological benefits as well as being great for core strengthening, balance training and fall prevention.

We are convinced that the next decade will bring a dramatic change to the way we view and accept physical deterioration associated with old age and we believe our equipment will play a significant role in that change.

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CTV News – Health & Lifestyle Nov 2008

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CTV News - March 2007

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Geriatrics