Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay is calling on community members to help keep patients active and on the “MOVE” during their stay in hospital.
The Kawartha Lakes hospital is recruiting volunteers to join the team responsible for delivering RMH’s MOVE Program, which is aimed at increasing strength and mobility for patients, and ultimately, accelerating their ability to return home.
Taking part in the MOVE Program has benefits for patient and volunteers alike, said Ryan Young, communications and public affairs officer at RMH.
“Getting people to move prevents deterioration, decreases length of stay, and prevents delirium and pressure injuries,” Young told kawarthaNOW.
Studies show that elderly people can lose one to five per cent of their strength every 24 hours when immobile, and a loss of only 10 per cent can prevent them from returning home, he noted.
“Our MOVE Program is a seniors’ engagement strategy to compliment our nursing and allied health teams who are the primary team members responsible for assessing and treating patients with mobility issues. Our volunteers can engage and socialize with patients to motivate greater participation in mobility and every day living activities.”
The decision to implement RMH’s MOVE program was based off evidence of similar successful initiatives being offered by other hospitals such as Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and other hospitals across the country.
The goal of the program is to have patients move three times a day, whether that be walking, getting up to a chair, sitting up in bed, rolling and repositioning, or doing bed exercises.
Volunteers in the program will receive training and work directly with patients, while supporting the RMH team. Volunteers’ work is hands off. Community members taking part engage with patients at the mobility level of the individual patient and do not work with patients who may be at risk of falls or other adverse health outcomes, RMH noted.
People who enjoy interacting with others could consider the MOVE Program as an outlet for giving back, Young said.
“Volunteering in our MOVE Program is another opportunity within (RMH) to make an impactful difference within our community,” he said. “We know that direct patient interaction can be one of the most rewarding aspects for some of our volunteers. This is an opportunity to connect with a fellow community member by encouraging patients to move, providing patients and families with information regarding the benefits of mobility, and providing options to stay active.”
“Ultimately, our MOVE program is a complement and enhancement of the exceptional care patients receive at (RMH).”
To apply to be a volunteer at RMH, visit volunteers.rmh.org/join-our-team.
RMH is an active, acute-care community hospital in Lindsay serving more than 100,000 local and seasonal residents in Kawartha Lakes.
