Kelly Gee is the new SMART program coordinator for Wellington County.
The program is administered by the VON (Victorian Order of Nurses). The aim of the program is to prevent falls, improve fitness levels, functional capacity and over all wellbeing. The VON hopes the program will not only help prevent seniors from falling, but also help them to live healthier lives which in turn will allow them to live independently longer.
The program stands for Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together and is funded through Trillium. It allows the VON to offer services for a minimal charge to local seniors 55 and over with 12 weeks, once weekly, of one-on-one in home exercise programs or group programs at various organizations and facilities in the area.
The hope is that building muscles, flexibility, and strength will help with the management and prevention of chronic diseases, improve physical and functional fitness as well as prevent falls, or if falls do occur, there will not be a major injury.
The exercises are geared to seniors, are low impact and there is absolutely no work on the floor or mats. In addition, the program helps seniors to attain a well-balanced holistic health.
The exercises focus on balance, posture, strength and endurance. The VON SMART program has been running in other communities since 2002 with much success, and is new the area.
To get the program running, the VON need volunteers who are interested in helping people in our community. All volunteers receive free training and mentoring. There is a six month commitment expected, at least one hour per week, and volunteers will also receive free CPR/First Aid training.
For more information contact Kelly Gee by email at kelly.gee@von.ca or by phone at 519-323-2330 extension 5235.
