Physiotherapist Denise Lai and Rehabilitation Assistant Ryeohyun Gong lead the Falls Prevention Program located in the Healthy Living Clinic at Humber River Health. Denise and Ryeohyun assist seniors in avoiding and preventing falls, while helping them improve their balance and mobility.

What do you enjoy most about working in the Falls Prevention Clinic?

Ryeohyun: I love working in the clinic because of the combination of educational sessions and exercise classes we provide to patients that have a direct impact on their everyday lives. Everything they learn here, they are able to implement into their daily routines.

Denise: I have been with the Falls Prevention Clinic since its launch in 2017 and have loved working with our patient population. Falls is a big problem among seniors. Knowing that I am helping seniors become more safe and independent at home gives me great satisfaction as a Physiotherapist. It is very rewarding to see their progress, and to see how they benefit from the activities. The seniors are extremely appreciative of what we do, and many of them are amazed at how much they enjoy exercising. We get so many compliments about the program, and extremely high satisfaction rates.

What have you learned from working with the patients?

Ryeohyun: I learn a lot from the patients taking part in the program. For example, many of our patients open up to us about their past and share different tips and life lessons that they have gathered from their experiences.

Denise: It is always interesting to talk to our patients in the program, many being in their eighties and nineties. With our diverse population, each of our patients have such different lifestyles and have had many different experiences. It is so fascinating just to hear their stories and celebrate milestones with them.

 

What advice would you give to patients interested in participating in the Falls Prevention Program?

Ryeohyun: Go with the flow because when you are always hesitant or waiting for the right moment to start something new, sometimes those moments might never come.

Denise: I would encourage them to just come and try it out. Once they are here, they will see it is not just an exercise class. It is a fun social outing filled with a community of people who motivate each other. Many seniors tell me it is the highlight of their week!

To learn more about the Falls Prevention Program, click here.