Patients Find a Friend in Movement Matters Program
15-3-2021
The focus of the Movement Matters - One Step at a Time Program at Windsor Regional Hospital is to get patients out of bed and walking to prevent deconditioning, yet there has been an additional benefit to the at-risk patient population participating in the program - socialization.
With heightened awareness over the past 11 months on the importance of enjoying the company of family and friends, the Movement Matters Program and ambulation team have stepped in to fill the ‘socialization’ gap created by the visitor restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deconditioning occurs from a lack of physical exercise leading to a deterioration of bones, muscle, and the mind. The program encourages at-risk patients, including seniors, to take a walk, no matter how small, and the number of steps are tracked.
Ambulation Assistant Tara Corra-Pella has been assisting patients in the program for ten years and found during the strict visitor restrictions, patients were lonely, sad, and craved the social interaction of their visits.
“The patients often look forward to us coming to see them. So if we see them in the morning, they will ask if we will return in the afternoon, “ says Corra-Pella pointing out the Christmas holidays were especially difficult for patients in the hospital when visitors were not allowed.
Within a few days of introducing herself to new patients, Corra-Pella builds a rapport with them and they are able to recognize her by name.
In the time it takes to help the patient out of bed and during their slow walk, they talk about everything from the weather, their family, their past employment, likes and dislikes, and items on the food menu. Corra-Pella adds she also tries to add a bit of humour to the conversation as laughing is good for the soul.
But the relationship doesn't end when the walk is over. The Ambulation Assistants address the simple needs of the patient; getting them an extra blanket or pillow, freshwater, ensuring the call bell, or bedside table is within reach.
Corra-Pella finds it rewarding to witness the progress made by patients, even if it is just one step at a time.
“A lot of patients come to the hospital very sick and weak and can’t walk very far,” she says. “Sometimes they can’t walk to the door, but later they can walk down the hallway. We build that rapport with them and then you get that smile from the patient.”
Ambulation Assistant Shelly Bechard points out in addition to setting physical small goals in the program, the team assists patients by establishing “a friendship and keeping them positive.”
As an example, she was able to talk to a patient on the 8th floor before she was discharged after being in the hospital for six months.
“We talked about her family, grandchildren, fur babies, Netflix TV series, and movies. She had a long journey to reach this point of going home.”
Special thank you to Sobocan Insurance and Financial Services for their sponsorship of this program.