Partnership between St. Joseph’s Healthcare and YMCA helps people with disabilities stay active after rehabilitation

A new partnership between a London hospital and YMCA hopes to improve injury recovery for people with disabilities, CTV's Reta Ismail has more.

A new partnership between St. Joseph’s Health Care London (SJHC) and the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario is helping people with disabilities stay active after leaving hospital rehabilitation.

The collaboration, known as the adapted fitness program, is a pilot initiative aimed at supporting former rehabilitation patients as they continue their fitness journeys in the community.

For many people living with a serious injury or disability, maintaining progress after being discharged from hospital can be difficult, with limited accessible fitness options available.

Participants in the program now meet twice a week for guided workouts at the YMCA Centre Branch in downtown London, Ont., where trained staff help them follow exercise plans developed during rehabilitation.

Rick Letton, who recently transitioned to the program after completing rehabilitation at Parkwood Institute, said the opportunity has made a significant difference.

“It’s really been a Godsend because, once I was done at Parkwood, I was worried that I wouldn’t continue, and I didn’t know where which gymnasium to go to. That would have people that were knowledgeable,” Letton said.

The sessions are supported by rehabilitation staff from SJHC, who help participants adapt their exercises and navigate equipment.

Stephanie Marrocco, a researcher at Parkwood Institute, said the program helps fill a gap for patients once formal rehabilitation ends.

“Having two assisted hours on the fitness floor where there are trained personnel available who understand people with disability contacts who are able to assist the members that come in with carrying out their independent exercise plan, so it can be some coaching and, or some facilitation that can help with the logistics of setting up the equipment,” Marrocco said.

Organizers say the partnership with the YMCA (or ‘the Y’) is designed to create more inclusive opportunities for people of all abilities in the community.

“This is a great opportunity to connect with all abilities in the community, looking for community partners that align with the values of the Y, like Parkwood and St. Joe’s. This is exactly what we’re looking for,” said Travis Watson, general manager of the YMCA Centre Branch.

For participants like Mark Hastings, who is living with a spinal cord injury, the program provides more than just a place to exercise.

“With the Y, it’s open all the time. I can come and go whenever I like, and when I have these young ladies helping me out, I can use the equipment that I wouldn’t even know of. So I never went to a gym when I was a kid. So this is all kind of new to me,” Hastings said.

While the focus of the program is physical fitness, organizers say it has also helped participants build friendships and social connections.

“It’s really great because, not only do I get to see them improve physically, we also do like a group called out on tour. And so we’ll hang out, we’ll talk, we’ll catch up,” said rehabilitation student Paula Kim.

Organizers say the pilot program is already showing promising results and hope similar partnerships will help more people living with disabilities stay active long after rehabilitation ends.