Living your best life

has involved different therapies, including laser and the use of the TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation) machine, as well as dry needling.

Montefiore’s unique approach to allied health makes all the difference to residents' health and wellbeing.

With more than 120 allied health professionals on staff, Montefiore provides holistic, person-directed care tailored to each resident’s needs, personal interests and requirements.

Montefiore’s experienced interdisciplinary teams consist of creative therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, dentists, dietitians and hydro therapists. Patricia, a Montefiore Hunters Hill resident, suffers from osteoarthritis. The degenerative disease, that worsens over time, often results in chronic pain.

Joint pain and stiffness – suffered by many of the residents at Montefiore, as with many ageing adults – can become severe enough to make daily tasks difficult. Two years ago, Patricia’s quality of life was being severely impeded by her pain and she was facing a future of progressive disability with anxiety and fear.

“I just couldn’t cope living by myself and I knew that I was going to be able to access the most wonderful care more easily living at Montefiore. I just didn’t realise until I was living here what a difference it would make to my everyday life,” Patricia says.

Physiotherapy manager Lynette Tapsell has been treating Patricia since she arrived at Montefiore. Treatment

Dry needling is a therapeutic approach for the management of muscle pain and movement impairment. This therapy has been available via fully trained physiotherapists at Montefiore for several years. Many residents find the treatment hugely beneficial for chronic pain relief and management.

“I was initially very hesitant to let Lyn try the needling on me. No-one likes needles, do they? But the next day my pain was so much better. It gave me huge relief; it was life changing,” Patricia says. Patricia is extremely grateful to have support to manage her pain. She benefits greatly from a combination of heat packs, dry needling, massage, using her own TENS machine and working with Montefiore’s exercise physiologists and occupational therapists. Patricia says the professional care and support she has received makes the process of ageing with chronic disability so much less fearful. With her pain and stiffness being relieved and managed, Patricia can make the most of life at Montefiore. She regularly attends Book Club and Wednesday evening discussions groups. She can now sit comfortably and enjoys spending time with her friends and playing Scrabble six mornings a week.

For more information about Montefiore, call 1800 978 711 or click onto https:// montefiore.org.au