Hydrotherapy, which may also be called aquatic therapy, water therapy or hydropathy, is essentially strength and conditioning based exercises performed in warm water usually not much deeper than chest height.

“Hydrotherapy is ideal for older people as the water provides a low risk exercise environment. The warm water often reduces pain and allows for a freedom of movement that a person may not otherwise achieve on land,” explains Barossa Village Physiotherapist Emily Davenport.

“Within group classes the program of exercises can generally be easily modified to suit individuals within the group, whether this is to provide more or less of a challenge, or to accommodate for specific ailments. Plus, no swimming ability is required to be able to participate!”

Barossa Village is the only aged care provider in the region to have a dedicated on-site hydrotherapy pool. The facility, which opened in late 2020, boasts a comfortable water temperature of 33 degrees and an ambient air temperature of 32 degrees year round, with a maximum water depth of 1.5 meters and hand rails on three sides. The facility also contains a fully accessible bathroom built to Changing Places specifications which can enable direct access from the bathroom to the pool via mechanical lifter.