IFI Main Scheme facility, Reigate and Redhill YMCA in Surrey have got their own YMCA Queen Mum!
Iris is a very sprightly 93 year old lady, who before her fall, was fairly active. Reigate and Redhill YMCA received a phone call from Iris’s daughter, Francis, asking for some help with her mother who had recently broken her femur (thigh bone) and was being discharged from Physiotherapy.
Iris lives on her own in a warden controlled flat and used a walking frame to shuffle into the gym. Having never been in a gym before, Iris was rather shocked at all the equipment and loudly said “I am not getting on any of that!”
Francis explained that Iris had lost confidence with her mobility and was always very anxious about sustaining another fall. Iris is also deaf and was extremely worried that she could no longer manage the things she did before.
To assist Iris, Reigate and Redhill YMCA set out a seated exercise programme, using some light dumbells and bands, which we taught Francis as well, as she was going to be the one that would be assisting Iris when she visited the gym. Iris mentioned that she was really keen to be able to step up into her shower cubicle as she missed having a shower and wondered if they could help with strengthening her leg enough.
Over a period of time, Iris attended the gym each week and worked her way through the exercise sheet. The staff at Reigate and Redhill YMCA would check how high Iris could lift her leg every few weeks and gradually a marked improvement began to show. Iris now also uses one of the recumbent bikes and can maintain a steady pace for nearly 5 minutes.
After nearly a year of starting her programme, Iris sent a card in the post saying “yippee! I actually had a shower”. Since then, Iris’s confidence has grown and she now walks with a walking frame on wheels and also goes for a walk around the gym without holding onto Francis’s arm.
Francis said “Iris really looks forward to her trip each week, she really enjoys the exercise and meeting the members, her confidence has been restored”.
