Caring for the elderly is a win-win for Rosemary Mowat, who dedicates her time to facilitating physical activities for people 55 years and older in order to contribute to their well-being.
“Over the years, I have seen participants improve their physical and mental health. To be honest, me too,” said Mowat, who volunteers as a fitness instructor for the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) in Barrie.
The exercise program, called SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together), consists of a 50-minute routine with warm-up, cardio, cool-down, co-ordination, resistance, balance, flexibility, stretches, and relaxation.
Mowat tells BarrieToday that many of the participants have some sort of limitations, so everyone is encouraged to follow at their own pace and to sit down if necessary.
“The program is divided into standing and sitting. However, all the exercises can be adjusted to be done while sitting,” she added.
Besides helping Barrie’s elders improve their overall functional fitness, Mowat says she enjoys the engagement that is naturally part of the workout sessions.
“I love the social opportunities. It's important to keep the feeling light and have a few laughs, too.”
While using paid fitness instructors to lead the classes, trained volunteers are an essential part of the low-impact exercise program, which is fully funded by Ontario Health and is free to the participants.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have dedicated volunteers who believe in and support our goal to help our clients stay healthy, live well and remain active,” said Jennifer McLellan, manager of home and community care at VON Canada's Simcoe County branch.
She noted that VON Canada is much stronger because of its volunteers.
“The people who volunteer for VON are incredible human beings who demonstrate remarkable passion for their work," McLellan said. "They show great dedication and are caring and compassionate in their roles.”
McLellan explained that the importance of volunteers to VON Canada is reflected in the charity's commitment to providing them with a high level of orientation, training, mentorship, and ongoing support to ensure that volunteers are well prepared for their roles.
She said VON is currently running 74 SMART exercise classes in Barrie each week at 36 different sites.
“Each month, volunteers in the Barrie SMART program dedicate an average total of 130 hours to our group and in-home exercise programs," McLellan added.
McLellan believes the positive impacts of the SMART program and the incredible work of staff and volunteers at VON can be seen far and wide across the Simcoe region. As an example, she recalls one client who struggled with a medical setback due to his heart health.
“After joining our twice-weekly outdoor walking group, he was approved for the surgery he needed and he attributes this to the VON SMART activities he participated in," she said.
In the past year, the VON Barrie Adult Day Program (ADP) has moved to a new location in Barrie, complete with a renovation to make a great location for our ADP members.
“We have approximately 70 older adults attending our Barrie ADP each week, giving many caregivers much-needed respite," McLellan said.
For the In-Home Respite program, McLellan says the VON is currently assisting 29 clients each week, providing approximately 280 hours of respite for caregivers.
She also remarked that VON, as a registered charity, relies on donations to fund essential programs and services.
“Donations to the Simcoe County VON location support the purchase of equipment and supplies for CSS (Community Social Services) programs that are not otherwise funded," she said.
McLellan also calls for new volunteers to "join the thousands of VON volunteers who help make communities healthier."
Those who would like to give back through the VON Canada programs can apply by clicking here.
As for Mowat, she helps out at a few different locations of VON Canada in Barrie.
“I volunteer with VON because they have a well-known history of helping others. And, that very nature of caring carries through in how they treat and appreciate their volunteers," she said.
Learn more about VON Canada at www.von.ca.
