Manor Lodge is helping residents to rediscover their independence with the help of an innovative new suite.
Manor Lodge is the first care home in the area to open its own specialist physiotherapy gym for residents who could benefit from tailored, ongoing treatment.
The unique facility is run by full-time physiotherapist, Ria Ragasa, and her assistant Alma Hood. Ria has been part of the team for almost a decade having previously worked at East Avenue Medical Centre.
Speaking about the new offering at Manor Lodge, Ria said: “It’s unusual for a care home to have its own in-house physiotherapy gym, but it really can make all the difference to residents, so I’m delighted it’s a facility we can now offer here at Manor Lodge.
“During our sessions we get to know each resident we work with and find meaningful ways to build their confidence and motivate them to keep their exercises up. An intervention can be small or large depending on the residents’ individual needs, and it can go a long way to improving their quality of life and independence.”
The new gym has been open for eleven months and has already helped a number of residents, including 84-year-old Derek Sharp, who came to Manor Lodge unable to move or eat independently. After some time with Ria, he is now mobile, active – and even drove independently.
Juliana Miles, home manager at Manor Lodge, said: “The importance of physiotherapy for older people cannot be overstated. It really can make a huge difference to a person’s health and wellbeing – particularly after an operation or a fall.
“While we’ve been able to offer this important service for some time now, we know that very few care homes can offer a gym like this for residents and it was an ambitious project for us – but we’re already thrilled with the results. I’d like to say a big thank you to Ria and Alma for their continued hard work, and we look forward to making a difference to the lives of many more older people in Chelmsford in the future.”
