Wave Active has opened a new suite designed to support older adults and people living with long-term health conditions through adaptive exercise and meaningful social connection.

Lilian’s Room at Downs Leisure Centre, in Seaford, UK, was made possible thanks to a bequest from Lilian Davis, who had attended the Wave Active Health Outreach Sessions delivered in her care home. 

Co-designed with the Innerva team, it features assisted, accessible exercise equipment, as well as Tiny Tablets – interactive touchscreen tables which use apps to support stroke rehabilitation.

For the first time outside a clinical setting, Strolll will be also available. This all-in-one digital therapeutic software solution for augmented reality (AR) glasses will help those suffering from a variety of neurological health conditions, including stroke and Parkinson’s Disease, supporting mobility, balance, cognitive engagement and functional rehabilitation. 

Users will be supported by trained staff, including health practitioners, a health coach, physiotherapist and a neuro physiotherapist.

A training area will host group exercise sessions, such as chair-based exercise, PSI, falls prevention and stroke rehab.

“We have a number of aims with Lilian’s room, all of which relate to diversifying the offer to enable more people to move more and to do so more often," Wave Active CEO, Duncan Kerr, told HCM. This includes those who – for whatever reason – find that difficult.

“Our hope is that Lilian’s Room will appeal to those seeking a different kind of support, more akin to a prehab/rehab clinic than a leisure centre, hence our investment in the team to bring a wider skill set to the centre. 

“We’re keen to demonstrate that our sector can be an effective partner to Primary Health Care and the NHS. I’m delighted to say we are making progress with this ambition demonstrated by the opportunity we’re now being given to work with the Acute Stroke Team in the Eastbourne District General Hospital. 

“Our physio and health practitioner will be supporting the Acute Stroke Team to reduce the level of deconditioning of stroke patients while in hospital. Lilian’s Room will play a key role once these patients return home, hopefully reducing blue light returns to hospital.”

Numerous members of the leisure centre have expressed an interest in the suite in order to get their parents active. “Many describe their parents as inactive because that’s what happens when you get older, but we know that doesn’t need to be the case,” says Kerr. “We just need to provide the space, relevant equipment and support to enable more movement, more interaction, greater support and so on.

“We had no idea how much the exercise sessions had meant to Lilian. We all wish we could thank her in person for her kindness and I only hope we do justice to her legacy with the work we will now do with Lilian’s Room.”