Wellness Center
Cognitive and physical fitness for brain injury
Supportive living, Inc. (SLI) is currently developing the SLI-Wellness Center. The center has been designed to offer programs to enhance the cognitive and physical fitness for residents of SLI’s residential programs, enabling them to live more confident and independent lives. The eventual goal of the center will be to provide brain injury programs for individuals within and outside of the SLI residential programs. The program center will be located in the lower level of the SLI - Douglas House in Lexington, MA.
The goals of cognitive rehabilitation and treatment are to enhance the person's ability to process information and function in family and community life. Cognitive and behavioral rehabilitation may include:
- Restorative Training - focusing on improving specific areas of brain function.
- Compensatory Training - focuses on adapting to the presence of cognitive and behavioral deficits.
The goals of occupational and physical therapy are to improve the person’s ability to perform activities of daily living (dressing, grooming, etc.) and to strengthen overall muscle groups – especially areas damaged as a result of their brain injury. The SLI-Wellness Center will include:
- Computer(s) and software tools for cognitive rehabilitation.(Computer assisted exercises have been used to improve attention, memory and organizational skills).
- Services and programs, including physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, creative therapies such as art and music therapy, and vocational program are being reviewed and selected as the project is being constructed.
- Exercise rooms equipped with the tools that can help residents improve on a variety of physical challenges. Equipment will be used for basic exercise programs and specific physical therapy needs.
- A therapeutic whirlpool bath spa.
- Two-handicap accessible bathroom will also be included in the construction.
- A universally accessible kitchen area that can be used for independent living skills training, and utilized as a function area for use by residents and resident families.
- Private meeting rooms will be available for resident and family, staff, and therapist consultation.
- Recreational area
- Directly, handicap accessibility into downtown Lexington, allowing easy access to the variety of amenities the down town area offers.
Program partners and initiatives:
SLI is soliciting assistance from regional neurological and physical rehabilitation programs and professionals in designing specific programs for brain injury.
Professionals in these areas are planning to offer services at the center to current SLI residents.
Staff, family members of residents, and volunteers will be also be trained to assist residents in the use of the various equipment.
The use of new technological tools from computer and web based software to interactive therapy, tele-rehabilitation.
Development and documentation of programs provided will be benchmarked to allow appropriate evaluation of methods.
SLI will broaden the locations of the Center – adding additional amenities to other SLI locations including Warren House in Woburn and McLaughlin House in North Reading.
The basic infrastructure in the area has been completed. Over the next few months construction will commence to complete all the interior functional areas. The work required to complete the Center will be performed with plans to start programs by September 2010.
