Making Healthy Normal in Oaklands Park

Southern Cross Care (SA&NT) has opened it's seventh Health and Wellness Centre at Oaklands Park Lodge this week, continuing their quest to "make healthy normal", as Jo Boylan, Director of Operations said at the launch event.

Designed to promote active ageing among Southern Criss Care residents, the centres support residential care customers to improve their overall mobility and strength, while helping increase their skills and maintain independence.

The Health and Wellness Centres are led by a team of Southern Cross Care Lifestyle Coordinators who have each completed their Certificate III in Fitness through the Australian Institute of Fitness.

Ryan Cox is the Lifestyle Assistant and a Personal Care Worker for Oaklands Park, and at 23 years of age has already had a great start to his career.

Joining Southern Cross Care after completing his Certificate 3 in Aged Care, he went through the Graduate Aged Care Worker Program and then commenced his Fitness studies. He is currently completing his certificate 4 in Fitness, also through the Australian Institute of Fitness.

Resident, Jean Codling said on the day, "It was an excellent decision to appoint Ryan as he has such an outgoing personality.

Congratulations to everyone on a job well done and I think we will all benefit from this facility. The gym provides beneficial social interactions, for example, I have got to know Laurel from downstairs. The gym is quite a morale booster."

Residents seek GP clearances so they can take part and staff are seeing overall mobility improvements in residents including increased physical fitness, strength, balance, flexibility and endurance.

Each Centre is fitted with a range of specialised exercise and rehabilitation equipment including recumbent bikes, seated elliptical trainers, handheld and strap on weights, balance boards, parallel bars and chi balls. The early intervention trial program, has received positive response from residents and already shown strong improvements in their physical and mental health.

Southern Cross Care staff say it has been encouraging to witness the positive social culture among residents, including many who have claimed to have formed new friendships as a result.

Click here to find out more about Southern Cross Care (SA&NT)'s aged care services.