These USask physical therapy students are making a difference – working with residents in a long-term care home, they are motivated to improve quality of life and care. (Photo: Submitted)
These USask physical therapy students are making a difference – working with residents in a long-term care home, they are motivated to improve quality of life and care. (Photo: Submitted)

USask physical therapy students inspiring change in long-term care

For Valerie Kerr and Levi Osterwalder, their clinical placement at Stensrud Lodge became an opportunity to create meaningful change.

By Kristen Cutting

Walking regularly supports independence by maintaining mobility, balance, and the confidence to manage daily activities. University of Saskatchewan (USask) Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) students Valerie Kerr (BSKI’25) and Levi Osterwalder (BMSC’24) stepped into a long-term care setting eager to learn—and to lead.

Stensrud Lodge, a 100-resident long-term care home in Saskatoon that is part of Jubilee Residences and affiliated with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, serves individuals primarily experiencing neurological conditions, alongside some musculoskeletal diagnoses. The partnership between the School of Rehabilitation Science and Stensrud Lodge provides first-year MPT students with an experience that rapidly develops independence and confidence in clinical practice.

During their placement, Kerr and Osterwalder identified a gap: despite many residents being capable of walking, opportunities to walk regularly were limited.

“For safety reasons, walking the residents needs to be done with two people,” they said.  

Motivated to improve residents’ quality of life, the students set a clear goal: To get people walking more often.

With consistent effort, they supported residents to walk three or more times per week. The results were immediate and powerful.

“We saw residents able to walk farther every week, gain confidence, and many expressed feeling stronger and more independent.” Further, they observed “renewed hope, improved mood, increased joy, and desire to move.”

The impact was also recognized by Laurie Marple-Ross, vice-president of quality care and safety.

“The presence of physiotherapy students in our long-term care home brings meaningful engagement to our residents’ daily lives. By supporting mobility, independence, and participation in activities that matter most to residents, students help enhance quality of life while contributing valuable care capacity. They gain firsthand experience building relationships with older adults, fostering a future health-care workforce that is skilled, empathetic, and committed to person-centered care.”

While the impact of their efforts was significant, Kerr and Osterwalder also recognized a challenge. After the placement was over, residents would go back to walking just once a week and the gains they had made would begin to fade. Determined to create something sustainable, they developed a walking program supported by volunteers.

Working collaboratively, they partnered with the recreation therapist, therapy staff, and leadership at Stensrud Lodge. They also pursued options to recruit USask student volunteers.  

“An announcement has been posted on the PAWS student page to recruit volunteers,” they said, with plans to expand outreach further.

Reflecting on the experience, one resident’s journey stood out. With a goal to walk from the dining room to her room and back—a distance she had not managed since entering long-term care—the team worked with her daily.  

“We started with only being able to get 50 metres,” they said. “By week four, she was able to walk all the way to her room and back. She was so proud of herself, and it increased her motivation to continue to get stronger.”

For Kerr and Osterwalder, the program reflects the heart of physical therapy: patient-centred care, improving both physical and emotional health, and promoting physical activity, enabling people to work towards their goals.  

They saw firsthand the unique role physical therapists play in long-term care by supporting independence, preventing falls, and ultimately improving quality of life.

Their advice to fellow students is simple but powerful: “You know more than you think you know … Even doing the little things helps.”  

By sharing their stories, they hope to inspire others. Through initiative, collaboration, and compassion, the students did not just complete a placement—they helped residents take meaningful steps toward stronger, more independent lives.