My first Magazine St Joseph's Home_40th Anniversary magazine.compres | Page 40

Serving to
Change
S
P
A
C
E
S GYM TONIC
S
P
A
C
E
S HYDROPOOL
Fully sponsored by Lien
Foundation as part of their
pilot trial, the gym enables
even frail seniors to build
strength and flexibility
without injuring themselves.
The fitness equipment uses
air pressure as a form of
resistance rather than bar
weights as regular gyms do.
This means the machines can
be calibrated more finely to
meet the needs of the person
using it thus enhancing their
workout experience.
Hydrotherapy or water
therapy is an alternative
to land based exercises
which may be unsuitable
for residents perhaps due
to the strain this causes on
their joints and muscles.
The buoyancy from being
in the water allows them
to move more freely with
less resistance compared
to being on land. As the
water in the pool is heated,
residents also benefit from
the warmth which can help
alleviate pain and stiffness.
38 | St Joseph’s Home
Quick facts
• Pool can hold up to 3 residents
at any one time
• An overhead pulley system can
hoist a resident from chair to
pool and back
• Water temperature ranges from
15 to 45°C; during sessions it’s
kept at 34°C
• Flooring can be raised to 0.02
metres or lowered to 1.7
metres from the surface
• 3 underwater cameras provide
live images of residents’
underwater movements