Project Overview

Many seniors do not walk well enough to gain health benefits from walking and poor walking quality can be dangerous. Most falls occur when people are not walking well. We are planning to implement three technologies to improve the quality of walking among residents of a senior’s independent living facility. The main technology is the Heel2Toe™ sensor, a small device that clips to the side of the shoe and provides positive auditory feedback for a “good” step. To augment the effectiveness of the Heel2Toe sensor, we will also provide weekly workshops on how to walk BE er, Faster, Longer, STronger (Walk-BEST). To improve the joint and muscle function needed to Walk-BEST, the Walk-BEST Chair has also been developed with an accompanying illustrated exercise guide. The triple C implementation model will guide the process through 1) Consultation to prioritize ideas, identify areas of improvement, and design a process map, 2) Collabora on to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder with respect to the service to be implemented and the organizational culture, and 3) Connectedness to standardize protocols and identify resource needs. The project aims to improve the health and physical functioning of residents in seniors’ residences through implementing the Walk-BEST technologies in one residence in Montreal and the development of a best practice implementation model.