Celebrating Wellbeing in IRCs Week: Meet our team & discover the benefits for residents

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your role?

Seeing the difference physiotherapy input makes to the residents, such as reducing their pain or improving their ability to walk and enjoy their hobbies. Another highlight is watching the Physiotherapy students thrive and develop their knowledge, skills, confidence and autonomy.

What is one unique aspect of your role as a Student Practice Facilitator Physiotherapist?

I supervise the students from a distance (long-arm supervision) and see them in person once a week. This means that I am not based at one set village, I can support more students across six villages at any one-time giving residents more access to physiotherapy.

How does the wellbeing team at ExtraCare help residents maintain their independence?

In so many ways! From a physiotherapy perspective students promote physical activity through offering exercise classes and other activities such as balloon volleyball. They make activities accessible to all levels of ability to encourage residents to become more active. They also help residents with a range of neurological, respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions, to help reduce pain, improve strength and flexibility and help residents to maintain or improve their functional ability in their day to day lives. They can also help to improve a resident’s ability to walk and their balance to reduce risk of falls. Students have also delivered education sessions on issues such as incontinence and the benefits of physical activity. They also work closely with the wellbeing advisors, fitness instructors and dementia and mental health enables to support the residents with their needs.

How does the wellbeing team at ExtraCare support residents’ mental and emotional wellbeing?

The wellbeing advisors and dementia and mental health enablers offer a range of services and activities to support residents with their mental and emotional wellbeing. Physiotherapy students often work alongside them to develop their own knowledge and skills and learn how to support residents. The students often see residents to help them with a physical issue which ultimately helps with their mental and emotional wellbeing when they see results such as a reduction in their pain and an improvement in their daily functions. As students, they often have more time to spend with the residents, which gives them the opportunity to talk. Residents enjoy the company of the physiotherapy students, and this often helps to prevent feelings of loneliness

In your opinion, how does living in a retirement village, like ours, help residents age gracefully and independently?

Ensuring a supportive community where support is readily available for the residents, such as the wellbeing advisor and dementia and wellbeing enabler, and a range of students from different healthcare professions such as occupational therapy, dietetics, nursing students and physiotherapy students. Offering wellbeing days where residents can learn about and access a range of community support services. Physiotherapy students help residents to manage their long-term conditions and prevent deterioration.

The range of activities offered also promotes social inclusion and companionship for many residents, keeping them physically and mentally active and engaged. There are also opportunities for residents to volunteer in a range of roles at the villages.

For more information on wellbeing visit ExtraCare’s Wellbeing Page