Physiotherapy students learn a lot by getting NDG seniors moving
Twenty-four students in Dawson鈥檚 three-year Physiotherapy Technology Program are leading seniors in physical fitness activities this fall at the St. Raymond Community Centre in Montreal鈥檚 borough of Notre-Dame-de-Gr芒ce.
Seniors look forward to these morning sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 鈥淓veryone shows up,鈥� says C茅cile L鈥橦eureux (Bertucci), an 83-year-old regular who has been coming since the partnership began in the 2015-2016 academic year.
Highly motivated
C茅cile says her motivation is high and appreciates the exercises proposed specifically for her needs. 鈥淚 am happy! It does me a lot of good,鈥� she said.
鈥淭he morning passes quickly and it鈥檚 very enjoyable,鈥� said Josie Mancini, who began participating in the program this fall and explained that they keep changing activities through the hour or so. 鈥淚 feel more energy when I go to the exercises! The students are very good.鈥�
Vanessa Gangai, Program Coordinator of the Physiotherapy Technology Program, oversees the course, called Geriatrics, with fellow faculty member Cathy Roy. The partnership benefits the community and the students get hands-on learning, she said. Some of the goals are: giving seniors confidence in the snow, helping them reach the top shelf at the grocery store and breaking isolation.
The student perspective
Third-year student Franceso Marini enjoys the program as much as the seniors. 鈥淚t’s such a good way to start a Tuesday!鈥� he said. Francesco feels he and his fellow students are getting a good overview of the types of clients he may have in the future.
Each student is matched with a participant.聽 Francesco鈥檚 senior is in his early 80s and 鈥渕uch more active than you’d expect.鈥� His challenge is pacing himself. 鈥淚 encourage him to impress me and walk as much as he can, but I also encourage him to take his time. Overall though, they are people like any one of us, and after gaining insights into their habits and goals, I can be there to just light that path.鈥�
Third-year student Meaghan Robertson says the experience has been wonderful and invaluable. 鈥淭he participant I am paired with is very independent in their activities of daily living without any mobility issues or pain limiting their function.聽I learned that you must keep on asking questions week to week. The more open-ended questions you ask, the more details you learn about them as people. Pertinent information about their overall general health, past possible surgeries, falls that might have occurred or emotional well-being might come to light through casual conversation 鈥hich is helpful to guide the appropriate exercises, education and recommendations.鈥�
Integrating knowledge and skills
Meaghan said this experience has had an impact on every aspect of the students鈥� development as physiotherapy technologists.聽聽鈥淲e have had the opportunity to integrate the knowledge and practical skills we have learnt since the very first semester in the program,鈥� she said.
Meghan then outlined many positive impacts on the seniors: learning how to properly care for their feet, reaching out to their physician to inquire about high blood pressure or low heart rate, learning the signs and symptoms of a stroke or heart attack and getting out of the house to socialize and receiving a home exercise plan specifically tailored for their needs and abilities.
鈥淢ost importantly this program gives participants the opportunity to move their bodies, exercise their minds and have some fun!鈥� Meaghan said.
Tremendous impact
Teacher Vanessa Gangai believes there is a tremendous impact: 鈥淥n an individual level, we’re helping seniors increase their activity level, overall fitness and health, which allows them to remain in their homes and be vibrant members of the community. Most of the participants show concrete gains in muscle strength, balance, cardiovascular endurance and walking speed, which are directly related to one’s ability to maintain their independence. By staying well and physically able, the seniors can remain in their homes and continue to act as volunteers and leaders in their community.
鈥淚n addition, this program could have an impact on our public聽healthcare system.聽If we can help prevent people from ending up in the emergency room, spending weeks in the hospital and eventually years in a long-term care facility, consider the millions of dollars that the government could save. Health promotion and preventive care is the way of the future!鈥�
Simeon Pompey, faculty member in the Community, Recreation and Leadership Training (CRLT) Program, is also involved at the Centre and said that the City of Montreal has identified the partnership between the centre and Dawson鈥檚 physio program as an important project. CRLT students will be continuing to work with the seniors this winter.
