in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
October 07, 2024
The VON Grey Bruce team will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the SMART Exercise and Falls Prevention Program on October 18, 2024. This program offers group exercise classes to community members aged 55 years and older, as well as adults living with disabilities, who want to improve their strength, balance and mobility through low-impact exercises.
In 1994, VON introduced the first SMART classes in London, Ontario. Since then, the program has expanded significantly with 87 SMART classes running each week in 31 locations throughout Grey Bruce.
On October 18, at 10:00 am, VON will celebrate this milestone by hosting what they hope will be the biggest exercise class held in Grey Bruce — both in-person and virtually. The event will be held at the Christian Fellowship Church in Sauble Beach (27 Southampton Parkway) from 10 am - 1 pm. Everyone is welcome to join and celebrate the incredible successes of the SMART team and raise awareness about the program.
“When I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, my doctor advised me to keep exercising and stretching in order to improve (or maintain) mobility. I’m feeling so much better since participating in the VON chair fitness classes, and I’m seeing an improvement in my balance,” said Judy Hanes, SMART participant.
“As a VON SMART leader, I have seen clients make incredible progress—many who started attending in wheelchairs are now using walkers and fully engaging in exercises. Moments like these make me proud, knowing that my work helps clients regain their strength and independence.” said David Dougherty, SMART instructor.
VON Canada was one of the first organizations in Canada to provide home nursing care and public health nursing. They remain innovators and trailblazers in home and community care to this day.
They were established in 1897 to ensure that care was available, affordable and accessible to everyone in Canada, no matter where they live. It’s work that they have continued for over a century. They were among the first in Canada to offer prenatal education, well-baby clinics, school health services, visiting nurses and coordinated home care programs. They have helped communities across Canada during some of the most devastating periods in our country’s history — World War I, the horrific explosion of a munitions ship in the Halifax harbour in 1917, the deadly influenza epidemic of 1918, the Great Depression, World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic. VON has a proud legacy, and well into their second century, their priority remains to provide care and support to Canadians in their own homes and communities, where they want to be.
VON is a highly trusted charity that delivers home care and community support services to more than 10,000 people in Ontario and Nova Scotia every day.
Together with their employees, volunteers, clients and their families, VON Canada helps people stay healthy, live well and remain active. The innovative clinical, personal and social supports they provide help keep their clients living in the safety and comfort of their own homes and communities — where they want to be. VON is accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada.
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