Community Living Center gets Restorative Gym
Gifts were opened early in Salem’s Community Living Center when, on November 1, the CLC cut the ribbon on a Restorative Gym for residents.
“The concept and outfitting of the space was a team effort with the unit and leadership to develop a restorative gym so our CLC residents could maintain their level of function after finishing physical therapy treatments,” said Georgine Gulotta, CLC Nurse Manager.
The Restorative Gym features a stretching table, treadmill, exercise bike, a rack of dumbbells and an assortment of resistance bands and other non-mechanical exercise equipment.
“The residents really like it,” Gulotta said. “Those who were less inclined to work out and be motivated have been requesting to go to the gym and have developed a nice routine several times a week.”
Residents work with a full time Restorative Nurse’s Aide who helps them remain engaged and monitors them as they work their way through workout routines on the equipment.
CLC residents, who currently range up to 87 years old, have expressed their approval of the gym and Gulotta said the CLC’s next goal is to hire ten registered nurses to open a skilled rehabilitation unit dedicated solely to the rehabilitation of residents with difficult rehabilitation needs.