A painting on the wall of the restorative-care room at Alexander Place will be used to track residents’ progress as they participate in the home’s Olympic challenge.
Home creates restorative-care program around Olympic buzz
Residents motivated to increase personalized exercise programs through challenge
Thursday February 11, 2010 -- Jennifer Higgs
Residents at Alexander Place are getting ready for their own Olympic challenge, increasing the frequency of their workouts to be in good form when the race begins Feb. 16.

The race is an annual event and Karen MacLeod-Verhaeghe, restorative care co-ordinator at the Jarlette long-term care home, says she designed this year’s program to keep with the buzz of the Olympic spirit.

With the Olympics being hosted in Canada this year, the theme provides residents something timely to connect with and reminisce about. Residents are surprisingly competitive, says MacLeod-Verhaeghe.

Eighty-five of the home’s 128 residents are planning to participate in the race.

A large painting on the wall of the Waterdown home’s restorative room includes three of the Olympic sites in British Columbia — Whistler Olympic Park, Cypress Mountain and the Richmond Olympic Oval. The sites provide the route for the race.

Local artist Bryan Bennett — who is the son of resident and winner of last year’s race Jean Bennett — created the painting.

Each resident has a paper cut-out with their name on the wall that is moved throughout the route as their points accumulate.

Residents receive points through completing their own physiotherapy and restorative care personalized program, which may include strengthening and walking.

The events that residents’ points will go towards are skiing, snowboarding, bobsledding, luge and skeleton.

“Really what it promotes is frequency of your own personal plan,” explains MacLeod-Verhaeghe.

Some resident benefits from exercise include increased circulation, muscle strengthening and maintenance, balance, increased transfer ability and decreased falls.

“The race provides a positive challenge through exercise that benefits the overall well-being of the elderly, and also provides a lot of laughs as the residents all clamour to be the champion and bring home the trophy,” adds MacLeod-Verhaeghe.

The three-month race has two categories: the men’s championship and the women’s championship.

The first-place winner from each category will receive a trophy. Second- and third-place winners will receive medals for their achievement.

A party is organized at the end of the race and awards are handed out.

Previous race themes have included a trek across Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and the world’s tallest mountains.

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