From gentle exercise videos to fall prevention tips to guided meditation for mental clarity and relaxation, keeping Northumberland County seniors safe and well at home is the aim of a new initiative created by Northumberland Paramedics as part of its community paramedicine program.
Northumberland Paramedics recently announced the launch of a virtual wellness library, designed to connect seniors in their own homes with online resources and videos to help improve their health and well-being.
Created in partnership with Community Care Northumberland (CCN), the Town of Cobourg, and the Cobourg Community Centre, the wellness library is geared toward seniors but includes a broad range of resources that are suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
“By engaging our partners through networks like the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland — such as Community Health Centres of Northumberland and CCN — we’ve been able to produce this library to bring resources already in the community into people’s homes, removing barriers and creating connections,” Northumberland Paramedics chief Susan Brown told kawarthaNOW.
“This is another way to action our commitment with the community paramedicine program to take a holistic approach to wellness, connecting physical, mental, and social well-being,” Brown said.
Resources in the community paramedicine wellness library include seated or stabilized workout videos featuing 30 or 40-minute gentle exercise classes designed to improve flexibility and strength, tips and video resources to help seniors reduce the risk of falls and maintain independence, and meditation resources with guided sessions designed to reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and enhance relaxation.
“Many of our clients are looking to stay active and maintain their independence,” Brown said. “This tool connects residents to resources and classes available in the community, through a virtual platform that aims to help to reduce barriers for those unable to access these resources in person.”
“The virtual library promotes independence by encouraging regular fitness activities to improve strength and mobility, while also boosting mental health and fostering connection to reduce isolation.”
The virtual library is available at northumberland.ca/wellnesslibrary.
Northumberland Paramedics’ community paramedicine program deliver non-emergency in-home health care directly to residents in need.
These preventative care programs support vulnerable community members and seniors in the community, while also helping to manage the high demand for emergency services, hospitals, and clinics.
Clients can access health services on the telephone 24/7 and on-site services from 6 a.m. to midnight. Services provided through home visits include 12-lead electrocardiograms, oxygen saturation tests, blood draws (for homebound individuals with barriers to in-home lab work), blood glucose readings, weight measurements, urinalysis, and the monitoring of of vital signs to prevent the escalation of chronic medical conditions.
