A GENEROUS donation from the Rotary Club of Bathurst Daybreak is already helping clients feel more comfortable participating in the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program held at Ochre Health.
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The club recently handed over two bariatric chairs for the program.
The program helps people with chronic heart disease return to active life and helps prevent further heart problems.
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Some exercises require clients to be seated. Using the standard chairs can make some, particularly those with an increased body mass index (BMI) and the elderly, feel uncomfortable and unsafe.
Community health nurse Cate Horsburgh said bariatric chairs make a difference.
"It leaves the client feeling more comfortable because, particularly in a group setting, if you can't get into the chair you'll only try it once and you won't come back to the program because you feel embarrassed," she said
"It gives them the confidence that they can participate and feel more at ease and safe because of the structure [of the chair]."
Ms Horsburgh said the chairs were something they had wanted for a long time and they were very appreciative of Rotary's donation.
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Rotary president Robert George said work on this project started under previous president Erik Mol after the club was approached by the hospital with a list of things this service needed.
Funds were raised through the Bunnings barbecue and other activities.
"It is very satisfying to see them being used and we are as much as possible trying to support local needs and work for local community; it's a good partnership between the hospital and the club," Mr George said.
