“I thought I’d never walk again after my hip collapsed, but thanks to the clinic I’m doing things I never thought possible.” These are the words of Penny McGregor, a client at VGH’s Elder Care Ambulatory Clinic.

A pilot project in its second year, the Elder Care Ambulatory Clinic is a VCH-funded outpatient program helping frail elders, like Penny, rebuild functional strength and mobility after discharge from VGH.

Like many other clients, Penny credits her increased mobility to the outstanding care she receives at the clinic. “My walking has improved immeasurably since coming here. I am a real cheerleader for this program — they’re miracle workers!”

Empowering elders, preventing re-admission

According to Sonia Martins, clinic co-founder and physical therapist with geriatrics expertise, patients can lose up to 30 per cent of their functional mobility during their hospital stay.

Understanding the need for functional strength therapy for frail elders after discharge, Sonia, along with clinic co-founder, physiotherapist, Maureen Duggan, proposed the Elder Care Ambulatory Clinic to VCH and the UBC Department of Physical Therapy and VCH in 2012.

Sonia says the ultimate goal of the clinic is to return clients to their baseline strength to not only decrease the risk of falls and re-admission, but also to improve quality of life and help clients stay at home or assisted living longer.

She notes, “every patient has their own functional goal; it can be as simple as being able to get out of a chair or bathing independently. We hope that our patients will meet their functional goals and continue to exercise throughout their lifetime.”

Run with the help of UBC physiotherapy students, the clinic focuses on increasing clients’ balance, strength and confidence while at the same time offering valuable work experience for students.

Tyler Chong, a UBC physiotherapy student who recently worked at the clinic, says he values the relationships he made with clients and enjoyed tailoring exercise programs to their individual needs.

“We’re empowering people to do something about their health,” Tyler says, “it’s one of the most magical aspects of physiotherapy.”

Transitioning to the next step in community care

Seeing six to ten clients a day and a small group twice a week, the clinic has had 400 referrals in its second year.

On average, clients spend six weeks participating in one-to-one physiotherapy appointments before transitioning to once-a-week groups in the clinic; the eventual goal is for clients to join community groups outside the protected setting of the clinic, like VCH’s Steady Feet.

Measuring mobility by walking speed and sit-stand exercises, the clinic’s physiotherapists assess functional outcomes at every step to make sure clients are strong enough to attend group sessions. Functionality is measured before, during and after the program, with analysis of 2015 data currently underway to determine whether the clinic has had long-term benefits by preventing falls or related hospital visits.

The pilot will run to April 2017 and welcomes referrals.

Referring to the Elder Care Ambulatory Clinic

Referrals of frail elders (70 and older; those 60-69 will be considered on a case-by-case basis) for this outpatient service are encouraged. Here’s how:

• speak with your unit’s physiotherapist, or
• contact Sonia Martins directly