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St-Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre
For the clients at St-Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre, a long-term care facility in Cornwall, Ontario, treatment has become something they look forward to. With the help of the NeuroGym Bungee Walker, a versatile body weight support mechanism, they can now play badminton and throw balls while working on their balance and gait.
Despite its success in the area of “fun and games” however, it has also helped in other areas. For example, one client who had been refusing treatment was persuaded when Martin Hebert, kinesiologist for Stouffville Physiotherapy, tried a different approach with the device.
“She wanted to wash dishes – just something that made her feel like she was at home again.” So Hebert put her into the Bungee Walker, drew her close to the sink and for fifteen minutes watched as she chatted with her fellow-washer. For his client, it was not so much “treatment” as it was “a return to the good old times.”
Villa Marconi Restorative Care
“I’ve been in long term care for 16 years and this is actually the first time that I can see a piece of equipment impact so much the self esteem and the quality of life.”
Burloak Long Term Care Center,
Dianne Barsevich
Lucy who has organic dementia for many years hadn’t walked in five years and had no hope of doing so until Dianne Barsevich, physiotherapist of Burloak Long Term Care Center put her into the NeuroGym Sit-to-Stand Trainer.
Everyone wants to walk, explains Dianne, but in a long term care facility there’s a point when you’re up against too many hurdles – safety, weight, number of staff needed for support – and you stop trying to walk certain residents. Dementia residents, in particular, are a challenge because they typically don’t follow instructions and there’s the concern that they will sit down when you’re not expecting it.
The Sit-to-Stand provides a safe option for overcoming all of those obstacles. “It feels so much safer because it does all of the supporting,” says Dianne who has had a lot of success with it. “There’s no strain on staff and no fear of the patient falling. So, you’re more apt to try the impossible.”
And that’s exactly what they did with Lucy. They put her in the Sit-to-Stand and already she is walking 20 feet. If you ask Dianne how Lucy feels about this accomplishment, she’ll respond, ‘the smile says it all.’
The physiotherapy team put a female resident with progressive dementia and OA, who hadn’t walked in 1.5 years due to inability to transfer with 2 staff, in the Sit-to-Stand to practice weight-shifting. After standing up, the resident just started to walk and took 25 steps.
A male resident with dementia and Parkinson’s who is described as being ‘as stiff as a board’ is walking the length of the hallway with the Sit-to-Stand.
The NeuroGym Bungee Walker has given a male resident real motivation to get back on his feet. At 6 feet tall, he has OA, Lt knee replacement and COPD and was walking the hallway with the Bungee Walker. The Bungee Walker enabled him to improve his standing posture , improve his balance and increase the distance he could walk as he is able to rest when his shortness of breath compromises his gait training. Although a medical set back landed him in the hospital, he is now back at the Facility and starting with the Sit-to-Stand. However, remembering the pleasure of walking with the Bungee Walker, he’s truly motivated and eager for treatment.
The DOC, Nancy Martin has commented that she thought they bought the Bungee Walker and Sit-to-Stand for the residents but the staff are so enthused with getting residents up, it’s a party every week.
Neurogym Sit-to-Stand Trainer: A whole new outlook on life
Gail Lascelle, Extendicare West End Villa
Nothing short of a miracle: That’s how Gail Lascelle, Restorative Care RPN at West End Villa describes the response of one of her residents to the Neurogym Sit-to-Stand Trainer.
As the name implies, the machine helps people stand from a sitting position. With the use of counter-weighs, it strengthens weight-bearing muscles and increases standing stability and endurance; the weight being reduced as the person gains strength. However for one of Gail’s residents in particular, it has provided so much more.
Charles (whose name as been changed to protect privacy) was a big man who had been the quintessential lawyer. At 6’4”, 240 lbs, the octogenarian was larger than life, confident and with a dignity that commanded respect. Then a severe fracture and a diagnosis that he would never walk again brought him crashing down to earth. Movement that he had taken for granted was no longer possible. For every transfer, he needed the use of a mechanical lift, or ‘baby cage’ as he resentfully called it.
Faced with the impossible, Gail and the Family Physio staff decided to try Charles on the sit-to-stand, starting with 100 lbs of counter-weight. Within a couple of months he had progressed to 80 lbs then 30 lbs then no weight at all. Charles can now get up from the bed and also transfer to a toilet with the use of a simple pole. He can even walk the full length of the hallway with a platform walker.
Being able to get up has also resulted in many other benefits. Charles who suffers from bowel obstructions has had fewer setbacks and since training on the sit-to-stand his breathing has improved.
“What we’ve given him can’t be measured,” says Gail. “Yes, he’s regained his mobility, but he has also regained his self-worth and dignity.”
Gail goes on to say that while the sit-to-stand undoubtedly helps improve mobility, it is also vital for promoting independence and boosting client confidence. “I’ve seen it give both residents and staff a whole new outlook on life. It gives residents the feeling it’s not the end of life in long term care but a different life.”
Greg Almas
Head Coach of The Club Fitness Centre, Shalom Village
Shalom Village is a community of services for older adults. Built in their neighbourhood, Shalom Village provides supportive housing, long-term care, or “Shalom for the day” programs. Included in our community is "The Club", an innovative fitness centre for people over the age of 70.
With over 170 members, a big attraction of the club is its spirit, where members strive to remain independent and confident. The NeuroGym Bungee Walker has added significantly to this spirit. Using the Bungee Walkers, clients can now participate in “upright” activities, such as modified soccer and golf, just to name a few. What a feeling to be literally back on their feet! While participants are preoccupied with the fun of it all, they are strengthening their side balance and core as well as their hand-eye-coordination. A marked improvement is when they can reach for the ball or swing the club without falling off to the side.
Read about Harry, Ed and Heather in “NeuroGym gets folks back on their feet” in The Shalom Village newsletter (pdf format.)
Casa Verde Health Centre
“I am glad that Casa Verde Health Centre has provided our department with the innovative NeuroGym equipment which makes standing and ambulation exercises with residents less difficult, decreases the risk of strain, is safer, and more stable for me and for them. There are residents who are hindered from doing exercises because of safety or behaviour issues or who require more staff to accomplish the task when using just ordinary walkers. Having the NeuroGym equipment enabled us to focus more on these residents for their exercise needs. They become more confident when using them.”
“The first time I walked using the Bungee Walker after a long time of not walking, I woke up the following morning feeling much stronger. My feet are more useful now and my steps more secure. Walking is an easy task for me now and I’m more at ease when doing it. It gives me motivation to try harder. I was even able to walk around the building after a few sessions using the NeuroGym equipment.”
“This machine gives me a chance to finally stretch my legs and back in a way where I feel secure and safe. I finally can walk without the fear of falling. I feel complete independence while I walk. I feel like I am in charge!”
“Seeing the confidence build in a resident while using the Bungee Walker is priceless. The motivation that the residents have while using the Bungee Walker shows me as a caregiver that they feel secure and safe and not afraid. As a caregiver, the residents using this equipment would most likely not be walking because of safety reasons for the resident and the caregiver. But seeing what this equipment has done for many of our residents like building their confidence, and motivation along with the feeling of independence while they walk along the hallways, seeing them smile as they walk in front of other residents and staff makes their day and also ours.”
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