No images? Click here Fit at any age: bringing exercise routines to aged careOlder Australians living in 19 Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) in south eastern Melbourne will soon have improved access to allied health services, thanks to funding from South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN). Through an open tender process Plena Healthcare, Star Health and Vivir Healthcare were selected to deliver group physical therapy services. The physical therapy sessions, led by a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, or exercise physiologist, will include a combination of resistance training and balance training, twice per week. Why is this service needed?During the pandemic, outbreaks in aged care facilities led to full lockdowns, where residents were restricted to their rooms. Normal exercise and access to the outside was not possible. This led to significant deconditioning (a decrease in muscle following a period of inactivity) of these older people. The purpose of the program is to increase access to allied health services for people living in RACFs that were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns. The group physical therapy will aim to improve the physical function of aged care residents who are at risk of deconditioning due to the lockdowns. This six-month service started in July. |