Southern Cross Care (SA&NT) has opened it’s seventh Health and
Wellness Centre at Oaklands Park Lodge this week, continuing our quest
to “make healthy normal”, as Jo Boylan, Director Operations said at the launch event.
Designed to promote active ageing among our residents, the centres
support our residential care customers to improve their overall
mobility and strength, while helping increase their skills and maintain
independence.
The Health and Wellness Centres are led by a team of Southern
Cross Care Lifestyle Coordinators who have each completed their
Certificate III in Fitness through the Australian Institute of Fitness.
Residents seek GP clearances so they can take part and we are seeing
overall mobility improvements in residents including increased physical
fitness, strength, balance, flexibility and endurance.
Each Centre is fitted with a range of specialised exercise and
rehabilitation equipment including recumbent bikes, seated elliptical
trainers, handheld and strap on weights, balance boards, parallel bars
and chi balls. The early intervention trial program, has received
positive response from residents and already shown strong improvements
in their physical and mental health.
It has been encouraging to witness the positive social culture among
residents, including many who have claimed to have formed new
friendships as a result.
