Judy’s Rehabilitation Journey at The Chocolate Quarter

The Chocolate Quarter

Judy is a resident at The Chocolate Quarter, a vibrant retirement village in Keynsham developed by Bristol-based charity, the St Monica Trust. Known for its innovative approach to later-life living, The Chocolate Quarter offers a blend of luxury accommodation, community engagement, and high-quality care. With facilities like a wellness suite, cinema, spa, and dedicated rehabilitation spaces, it’s designed to support both physical and emotional well-being.

Ceiling hoist for rehabiliation

Judy has suffered a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), commonly known as a stroke, which occurred in 2021. The stroke affected her right upper and lower limbs, significantly impacting her mobility and independence. CVAs can cause muscle weakness, coordination issues, and balance difficulties due to damage in the brain’s motor control areas.

Recovery often requires long-term, targeted rehabilitation to rebuild strength and confidence.

Since November 2024, Judy has been attending weekly therapy sessions, each lasting around an hour. These sessions are tailored to help her regain independence, improve strength and balance, and build confidence in moving both with and without assistance, especially outdoors. The goal is not just physical recovery but also enabling Judy to continue participating in activities she enjoys, with adaptations where needed.

A key part of Judy’s rehabilitation involves the use of our GH3 ceiling hoist with the Gait Trainer sling.

The hoist provides safe, supported movement, allowing Judy to practice walking unaided, as well as backwards and sideways movements that are often challenging post-stroke. The Gait Trainer sling provides stability and reassurance, helping Judy push her boundaries without fear of falling.

Her therapy includes a variety of engaging balance and coordination exercises:

Balloon tennis using a racket, which encourages forward and backward walking while keeping the balloon airborne.
Kicking a football to improve leg strength and coordination.
Playing boccia (like boules), which has become easy for Judy, the exercises are now being adapted to offer more challenge.
Throwing balls at a target, which supports upper limb movement and hand-eye coordination.

These activities are not only therapeutic but also fun and motivating, helping Judy stay engaged and enthusiastic in her therapy.

Innovative equipment supports and improves rehabilitation

Since incorporating the ceiling hoist into her sessions, Judy has shown remarkable improvement. Her confidence has grown significantly, and she’s now able to complete more repetitions of each exercise. Some activities have become too easy, prompting her therapist to modify the sessions to maintain challenge and progression. Judy is now approaching a point where a personal trainer may take over her sessions, with her therapist reviewing progress every 4–6 weeks.

Judy’s story is a great example of how the right equipment can support and improve rehabilitation efforts. Under the care of The Chocolate Quarter’s Therapy Team, together with Guldmann’s innovative technology, Judy is reclaiming independence, one step at a time.

GH3 Lifting module Gait Trainer