"Empowerment" for the disabled is now a new model of long-term care. In the past years, Long-Tan Min-sheng Hospital has cooperated with Zhenyi Sports Medicine Center to build Long-Tan’s first community-based "Sports Empowerment Center" in Zhong-Zheng Lane, Long-Tan District, Taoyuan. It was officially opened to the public on the 23rd. It integrates the resources of sports, rehabilitation, and medical treatment, so that the elders can use the three major sport equipment, accompanied by professionals, to help delay the risk of disability and dementia.
According to statistics from the National Health Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan will become a "super-aged society" in 2025, and delaying disability will become the mainstream of the healthcare industry. Lily Chen, the director of Long-Tan Min-sheng Hospital, pointed out that the center is designed for middle-ages and elders, chronic diseases and stroke, through customized exercise classes, so the concepts of "exercise anti-aging" and "empowerment" can be practiced, and physical functions of the elders can be enhanced through exercise.
Ziting Shen, the Chief Executive Officer of Zhenyi Sport Medicine Center, explained that the middle-ages and elders sport center is different from other fitness centers. “Safety” is the priority. While training, passive exercises must be used to induce the physical functions of the elders, and then active exercises will strengthen the individual’s physical health. Adequate fitness allows the middle-ages and elders people to use fitness facilities under safe conditions to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, and reduce the risk of falls for the middle-ages and elders.
Ziting Shen said that the center currently has vertical rhythm equipment, which can promote blood circulation, which can help them get firm muscles and strengthen bones. It also has isokinetic muscle training equipment to increase muscle mass for the elders, and then do it with arms opened and closed. The two-way machine can effectively train the core muscle group. There is also professional staff on site to guide the elders to do the correct exercise posture.
Shuli Chen, the head of Zhong-zheng District, said that it takes the elders a lot of time to go to the hospital, and often comes with anxiety and sense of unknowingness. But now, the empowerment center is located in the community, which links medical resources with the community, so that the elderly can stay healthy without having to travel too far. The effectiveness of rehabilitation is indeed a local gospel.
◎Original Article: China Times https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20210223004369-260421?chdtv
