Reaching the goal
Participants hit one-million step plateau through adult day program initiative
"We were surprised. We just didn't expect it, but the initiative meant something to them and they really stepped it up." Freda MacLean, recreation co-ordinator
Thomas Jessome never knew about the adult day program at Harbour View Hospital until he was recovering from an illness that left him in the hospital for months.
“My daughter … was trying to get me back in health after my sickness, once that all passed, I joined the program and now I’m here five days a week, that’s how much I like it.”
The 75-year-old Jessome is among a group of 60 clients who participate in the local hospital’s adult day program. The program aims to enhance a person’s quality of life by helping them maintain their independence through different recreational programs and keeping them connected with the community.
As part of the program, clients participate in different activities, which includes walking. Clients are given a walking pedometer that tracks the number of steps taken each day.
On April 3, Freda MacLean, recreation co-ordinator at the hospital, launched an initiative with a group goal of reaching one-million steps.
At first, MacLean and her team estimated the group would reach the plateau by September, but to their surprise, they hit the one-million step mark last week, two months earlier then expected.
“We were surprised,” said MacLean, when asked her thoughts on the group reaching the goal early. “We just didn’t expect it, but the initiative meant something to them and they really stepped it up.”
The adult day program, formerly known as the seniors day program, was established in 1982. Aside from the activities offered, clients can also access cognitive, social and spiritual support through the program.
Currently, the age group for the program is between 60 and 100 years old.
Jessome believes the millionstep initiative was motivation for all clients to continue moving forward.
“I wanted to do as much as I could to reach the goal,” said Jessome. “Some days when I didn’t feel like walking, I was trying to boost it up, I forced myself to walk and once I walked around here (the hospital) about four times all the aggravations were gone, so I kept walking.”
MacLean helped with the motivation process over the course of the challenge.
“They liked the idea and as we went on they liked it more because I kept telling them we were getting closer and closer,” said MacLean. “We watched the weeks go by and the steps get higher until we finally hit the mark last week.”
Although the initiative was a group effort, Jessome took the challenge to a new level, finishing with the most steps among the participants.
In April, Jessome contributed 2,548 steps and followed that with 3,600 steps in May, that’s not counting steps taken in June leading up to the final day.
“I’m surprised I had the most steps because a couple of others in the program walk constantly,” said Jessome. “I like walking and I do the same thing when I’m home, I go to the boardwalk when the weather is nice, so it’s great and I’m pretty proud of it.”
Overall, Jessome said the program is important and something the Sydney Mines and surrounding communities are lucky to have.
“I never had the interest before to go on the boardwalk and walk … until I came here and then I got back in shape and lost a few pounds and that’s got the want back in me,” he said. “It makes me feel younger and I have no intentions of stopping walking.”
For more information on the adult day program at Harbour View Hospital, phone 902-7362831.