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Centenarian leads the way as revolutionary new gym equipment makes its mark across the city

A 101-year-old resident at Aberdeen City Council’s Fergus House care home is enjoying a new lease of life thanks to the provision of groundbreaking Technogym equipment.

Isobel Robertson, a retired shop assistant, has been rolling back the years adding to her daily walks along the home’s corridors with a work out in the recently installed Technogym at Fergus House.

As part of the council and NHS Grampian’s continued commitment to reshaping care for older people, funding was secured from the Aberdeen Partnership Change Fund to secure the UK’s first publicly-funded Technogyms for older people.

The Aberdeen Partnership purchased three sets for £51,000 with one being based at Robert Gordon University’s Health & Social Care Faculty, another at Fergus House and another set that is available for use at establishments throughout the city, including Care Homes (private and voluntary), community centres/venues, sheltered housing complexes and various Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian sites.

Aberdeen City Council Social Care & Wellbeing purchased an additional set, which is now based at Rosewell House.

And centenarian great-grandmother Isobel insists the equipment, which differs from normal gym equipment as it has been specially designed so it is suitable for older people and those suffering from dementia, has been a smash hit with residents.

Isobel said: “I think it’s great, I have really enjoyed using the gym. It’s good for getting all the residents together mixing and talking to one another. “

Fred McBride, chair of Aberdeen Partnership and Director of social care and wellbeing, said: "It’s hugely important that we change people’s perceptions about older people. Coming along to Fergus House today it is fantastic to see so many of the residents utilising the Technogym equipment and clearly enjoying themselves too.

“This is a very innovative and important area of work with older people. Statistics show that the population in the city is ageing and that creates a number of service issues that we are actively addressing both for now and the future.

“What this equipment does is encourage older people (60+) to undertake physical activity and signpost them to other activity opportunities in their communities, it gives opportunities for those with dementia living in the community to use the equipment, encourages care homes to increase the levels of physical activity and meaningful activities within their units by illustrating the benefits and challenging the stigma and attitudes facing older people.

“It’s still very early but we are extremely encouraged by the early results and seeing all of these residents here today shows how important projects like Technogym are and I hope they continue to prove popular with service users.”

The equipment does not use great weights with the emphasis instead being on gentle lifting and pushing, with the machines based on a hydraulic system rather like a bicycle pump.

Julie Thomson, social care and wellbeing principal planning co-ordinator, said: “As soon as the equipment came into Fergus House it was an instant hit. The residents and staff here have embraced it and are all enjoying it immensely.

“The feedback we are getting suggests that they are all reaping the benefits with resident’s mood and attitude lifted, they are sleeping better and we are seeing more flexibility and balance which we hope will lead to decreased falls.”

Isabell Aufferman, activities co-ordinator at Fergus House, said: “It’s fantastic to see the resident’s reaction to the equipment. They have really got into it in a short space of time and you see them popping in and out all the time. It’s great to seem them interacting not just with one another but their families can come and take part too.”

To celebrate its success and encourage more people to get involved the council and NHS Grampian have organised a series of Open/Drop-in sessions for anyone interested in trying out the equipment or who want to come and find out more.

Sessions will take place at the RGU Health & Social Care Faculty on Wednesday 18 January 2012, from 9am to noon, Provost Hogg Court on Thursday 19 January 2012, from 10am to 4pm and at Rosewell House on Wednesday 25 January 2012, 1pm to 4pm.

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