Every Friday afternoon, Providence Transitional Care Centre (PTCC) patient Donato Bracciodieta leaves the hospital behind.  

As he wheels through the Kingston neighbourhood surrounding PTCC, conversations shift from medications, appointments and recovery goals to the beauty of the surrounding historic homes, favourite deli sandwiches and stories about pets, families and life beyond hospital walls. 

“When we get out onto the streets of Kingston, it’s like taking a great big breath of fresh air and everything is gone,” explains Donato. “For a little while, you’re not a patient anymore. You’re just a person going for a walk.” 

Donato has been receiving rehabilitation at PTCC since May 2026 after breaking his ankle at work and undergoing surgery. While his recovery has focused on regaining strength and mobility, he says the emotional challenges of a lengthy hospital stay have been one of the hardest parts of the journey. 

“Being alone, missing your family and friends, constantly needing help for the smallest things, it can really bring you down,” he says. “You get up in the morning and you’re by yourself in your room. You wait for things. You miss your normal life.” 

Recognizing that many patients feel isolated during their hospital stays, Recreation Therapist Hailyne Carr-Williamson and Behaviour Technologist Ryan Dowdall launched the Mindfulness Movement Group in May 2026. Each Friday, five to six patients are paired one-to-one with a member of the allied health team for a neighbourhood walk that ends with a mindfulness activity like a reflection or stretching. 

“A lot of people told me they hadn’t been outside in months,” says Ryan about why the program started. “Patients were telling us they wanted out of their room, to get away from the same four walls and have something to look forward to. The goal with this program is to create an opportunity where people can connect with others, enjoy a change of environment and, for a little while, not feel like a patient.” 

Hailyne says the walks also provide something many patients miss during a lengthy rehabilitation stay: a chance to reconnect with the community beyond the hospital walls. 

“Community integration is such an important part of recovery, and we didn’t really have a way to provide that experience,” she says. “This program gives people the opportunity to get out into the community, create new memories and have different conversations.”  

Donato has been one of the Mindful Movement Group’s first participants and has joined nearly every outing since it began. 

“By the time Friday comes, you’ve been carrying all the frustrations and worries of the week,” says Donato. “Then you go on the walk and it feels like the balloon bursts. Everything you’ve been dragging around is gone for a while. It’s so refreshing.” 

For Ryan, those moments reflect exactly why the program was created. 

“We’re a rehabilitation hospital, but recovery is about more than physical healing,” says Ryan. “We want to support people’s mental health, reduce isolation and help them feel connected. A hospital isn’t where anyone wants to be, but if we can make the experience a little better, that’s important.” 

Beyond the physical benefits, Hailyne says the one-to-one walks create opportunities for more meaningful connections between patients and staff. 

“When you’re outside walking together, those interactions become more natural,” says Hailyne. “It helps build rapport and allows people to see us, and themselves, differently.” 

Those relationships have played an important role in Donato’s recovery. Recently, he was cleared for full weight-bearing on his injured leg, a milestone he credits in part to the support he received from staff throughout his rehabilitation. 

“When they introduced this group, it was like putting the icing on the cake,” says Donato. “You look forward to it all week. It helps you feel human again. And when you’re recovering from something difficult, that’s just as important as healing your body.” 

While the idea behind the Mindful Movement Group is simple, the impact has been meaningful. By working together, Ryan, Hailyne and the broader allied health team are helping patients reconnect with life beyond hospital walls, showing that recovery isn’t always about complex interventions. Sometimes, it starts with the basics: sunshine, fresh air, good company and a reminder of who you are beyond an illness or injury.