Category: Key things to help you everyday

The resistance training performed in gyms is a “preventative against ageing” – so why do so many retirement villages and aged care gyms lie empty?

The first stop on any visit to an aged care home or retirement village is often a tour of the gymnasium. The brand new equipment and purpose-designed-and-built room are often a source of great pride – however, more often than not, the visitor will witness a room full of equipment but devoid of residents.

Simon Lockyer, co-founder CEO of Brisbane-based home care provider Five Good Friends, says gyms are often underutilised.

“Providers have usually spent quite a bit of money on a gym facility, but often there’s only one or two people who really use them religiously and the rest of the community doesn’t know how to access it.”

KEY TO RETAINING INDEPENDENCE

Yet ‘getting into the gym’ can mean the difference between your residents ageing well – and positively promoting your village to their family and friends – or leaving for higher care services.

Resistance training – exercises that involve using weights or resistance to build muscle mass and improve strength – is widely known to be the most effective way to maintain fitness and mobility as we age.

Strength training is “a preventative against ageing, disability and disease, and the most important rehabilitation tool for those who have experienced functional decline,” says Dr Tim Henwood, Group Manager, Health & Wellness, at Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC) Inc.

“Research shows [resistance training is]as effective as medication to reduce symptoms of disease such as diabetes II, depression, and anxiety.

“It can strengthen your heart and your lungs almost as effectively as aerobic exercise, and it will have significant implications for falls reduction, which is enhanced positively when it is combined with balance training.”

“If older adults want to remain independent, they must do resistance training,” Tim said.

THE BARRIERS

Yet residents often don’t take up the opportunity.

“For the greater majority, and with the prevalence highest among older adults, many people have no experience in the gym,” said Tim.

“Many people have a negative stereotypical image of what a gym is and what the results are from training.”

“Few realise that strength training exercise has the greatest positive impact on their independence.”

EDUCATION AND SUPPORT IS KEY

How then do you get people moving?

“The first step is always education,” Simon said.

Five Good Friends’ village concierges run sessions to help educate residents. This includes information on the importance of strength and resistance training in maintaining independence and mobility.

Residents have “different barriers” to resistance training so an individual approach is required when working with residents to improve gym attendance, said Tim.

He believes there are four key factors to “better utilisation” of gyms:

• client education,
• casual staffing with appropriately qualified individuals,
• a free comprehensive health assessment and program when the client moves in, and
• encourage people to come together, therefore offering support and social engagement.

USER-FRIENDLY EQUIPMENT

Having equipment that is safe and easy to use is also paramount.

Tim is a self-described “big fan” of HUR equipment, which is designed specifically for rehabilitation and older users.

Designed in Finland and using air resistance instead of weights, resistance on HUR machines can be moved up or down in increments as small as 100g. Starting loads begin at 100g, which reduces stress on the body and minimises the risk of accidents.

Residents can access the equipment using a smart device on their wrist or smartcard; the machines can automatically adjust seat level, lever arm positions, resistance, and repetitions to suit the user.

HUR equipment is “user friendly” and has “less set up and has range of motion appropriate for this age group, and, if you invest in the internet integrated models, they welcome the client by name, set their resistance, count their repetitions and tell them how long to rest for,” Tim explained.

THE BEST SOLUTION: PEOPLE

Tim also believes that having appropriately qualified staff to train, monitor and motivate residents is vital.

“More than equipment, a good instructor, qualified and experienced working with this population, is the best solution,” he said.

While some facilities will have physios and exercise physiologists, many won’t. Providers such as Five Good Friends through their Move Nourish Connect program can help build partnerships with outside providers to bring external experts into the facility. They can also help to build communities around gyms in facilities of people who can exercise together.

Gyms are good for you, but it’s the communities around them that are often the reason people keep coming back.

As a Retirement Village or Community Manager in Australia, it is important to be aware of the benefits of Advanced Care Planning, especially during Advanced Care Planning Week, which runs from March 20th to March 26th. This week serves as a reminder for everyone to have brave conversations with their family members, healthcare professionals, and loved ones about their future health preferences, including end-of-life care preferences.

Advance care planning involves taking control of your future health care by making decisions about the medical treatment you would or would not like to receive if you were to become seriously ill and unable to communicate your preferences or make treatment decisions. It is an opportunity to ensure that your wishes are known and documented, providing peace of mind for seniors and their families.

According to Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA), only 15% of Australians have documented their preferences in an Advance Care Directive, despite the fact that over 50% of us will be too unwell to make our own end-of-life decisions. ACPA’s preference is for everyone to have a documented plan and a substitute decision-maker to ensure their preferences are respected. It is essential to understand the difference between an Advance Care Directive and an Advance Care Plan.

An Advance Care Directive (ACD) is a legally binding document that outlines an individual’s specific medical treatment preferences, including any life-sustaining treatments they do or do not wish to receive. An ACD can also appoint a substitute decision-maker (SDM) to make medical treatment decisions on behalf of the individual if they become incapable of making decisions for themselves.

On the other hand, an Advance Care Plan (ACP) is a broader document that outlines an individual’s general wishes and values regarding their end-of-life care. It can include information about an individual’s preferred living arrangements, spiritual or cultural beliefs, and other preferences that may affect their care. An ACP does not have the legal status of an ACD, and it does not appoint a substitute decision-maker.

As a Retirement Village or Community Manager, it is important to support residents in having these conversations with their families or support persons. It is not the role of the Village or Community Manager to force these conversations, but rather to recognise the importance of residents having their plans in order to avoid conflicts between family members regarding end-of-life care decisions.

When an individual’s preferences are known and documented, it can help to avoid disputes and disagreements among family members about what should be done and can also help to ensure that healthcare professionals provide appropriate and meaningful care to residents in their final stages of life.

As a Retirement Village or Community Manager, it is essential to understand the benefits of Advanced Care Planning and support residents in having these brave conversations about their future health preferences.

About Advance Care Planning Australia

Funded by the Australian Government and administered by Austin Health, Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA) is the national authority on advance care planning. ACPA supports individuals and health and care providers to enable people’s values and treatment decisions to be known and respected.

For more information, visit www.advancecareplanning.org.au

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Recently, I had the pleasure of listening to Ginni Rometty being interviewed on a Harvard Business Review podcast. Rometty, former CEO of IBM, emphasized that continuous learning and skill-building are critical to staying relevant in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world.

As Robert Greene said, “The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.”

Rometty believes that investing in oneself is crucial to success. She emphasizes the importance of developing new skills, taking risks, and embracing change. By continuously learning and developing new skills, individuals can stay relevant and adapt to the ever-changing demands of the modern world.

So, what are the skills that are most important for success in today’s world? Rometty highlights several key skills, including the ability to learn and analyze data, collaborate effectively, communicate well, and demonstrate leadership.

One of the critical skills that Rometty emphasizes is data analysis. In the digital age, data is ubiquitous, and being able to make sense of it is crucial for success. Rometty encourages individuals to embrace data analytics and to develop skills in this area, as it can provide valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends, and business operations.

Another skill that Rometty emphasizes is teamwork and collaboration. In today’s interconnected world, teamwork is essential for success, and individuals who can work effectively in teams are more likely to achieve their goals. Rometty believes that individuals who can collaborate well are better equipped to solve complex problems and develop innovative solutions.

Rometty also highlights the importance of communication and leadership skills. Being able to communicate effectively is crucial for building relationships and achieving goals. Rometty believes that individuals who can communicate well and inspire others are more likely to succeed. She also stresses the importance of developing leadership skills, as leaders who can inspire and motivate their teams are more likely to achieve success.

The insights of other experts in this field align with Rometty’s perspective.

According to Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, individuals who believe that they can improve their skills through hard work and dedication are more likely to achieve success.

Additionally, Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, emphasizes the importance of having a passion for what you do and being willing to put in the hard work necessary to achieve success.

Skill-building is a crucial component of success, and the insights of Ginni Rometty and other experts can provide valuable guidance. By continuously learning and developing new skills, individuals can stay relevant and adapt to the ever-changing demands of the modern world. So, let’s continue to invest in ourselves in 2023 and beyond, and use our newly developed skills wisely to achieve our goals.

As Ginni Rometty puts it, “Skills are the new currency; learn as much as you can, and use it wisely.”