News

A partnership between VON’s Ontario and Nova Scotia teams is helping to reduce isolation and increase fitness levels for clients in Truro, Nova Scotia. Ontario providers of VON’s popular SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together)® exercise and falls prevention program recently visited Nova Scotia to provide training to staff in the Cluster Care pilot program.

The Cluster Care program, funded with a grant from the Department of Seniors and Long-term Care, sees VON teams deliver group and individual supports to seniors in public housing settings to support independence and increased quality of life.

“We identified within Cluster Care that physical activity is incredibly important,” says Derrick Babin, Senior Manager, Home & Community Care, Nova Scotia Community Support Services (CSS). “COVID isolated people. It required physical isolation from others, but also created a fear of social contact that has remained with some people, particularly at-risk populations.”

Ontario staff members Jennifer McLellan, Manager, Home & Community Care, and Kelly Gee, Program Supervisor, provided SMART training to three Nova Scotia team members: Knickolle Pitcher, Cluster Care Case Coordinator, Monique Natividad, Adult Day Program Supervisor and Melanie Seamone, Administrative Assistant, Nova Scotia CSS.

SMART exercise classes now occur weekly at the two Cluster Care sites, which had already seen a reduction in social isolation among residents. “People are not only gathering but speaking of the benefit of gathering,” says Derrick. “One client told me the program has been life-changing. Another client told our team, ‘I’ve never been this happy in my life.’”

With the introduction of SMART, residents have an additional opportunity to increase physical activity. “You can gather around a cupcake and reduce isolation,” says Derrick. “But we also understand that when you're isolated in an apartment, you're not moving, and sitting is the new smoking.”

Lori Snow, VON Nova Scotia Project Coordinator, says Cluster Care clients were surveyed and expressed a desire to exercise, but needed a program geared to their abilities and health conditions.

“Some wouldn’t even go for a walk before because they were afraid they might fall,” Lori says. “With the implementation of the SMART program, they are able to exercise in a group setting with staff overseeing the activities. They feel a lot safer and more confident and they are moving more because of that.”

Adds Derrick, “Understanding the huge need, it only made sense to bring in SMART, a VON-operated and tested, professional exercise program. Why not leverage what VON already does very well? It was a great opportunity for us to be able to partner with the team in Ontario.”